Returning to riding/competing post baby

[Lisamd]

I am 37 weeks pregnant (due date 21st Nov) and looking forward to getting back on my boys! Stopped riding at 7 mths as Impy had to go on box rest for a month and Borris came home from eventing with a pro so felt that getting back on board a super fit eventer and one that had been cooped up for a month was not a good idea in my state!

So the boys are looking wild and woolly, enjoying their holidays and have been off for about 8 weeks so far. Front shoes still on, un-rugged (as it is sooo mild), out at day, in at night. I'm planning ahead and all being well with labour hoping to be back on asap, although I do appreciate this is a bit of a lottery as who knows how I will fare physically!

My tack is clean, my numnahs and boots are washed and ready to go! I have a friend who is going to come in and give the woolly mammoths a make over when I'm ready and my lorry is due back from a friend who has been borrowing in whilst we've been off on the 2nd Jan.

My mini aim is arena eventing with both boys (BE90) on the 31st Jan and 14th Feb (BE90&100)..am giving the 11th Jan one a miss!

So what I am looking for are positive stories of returning to riding and competing after birth, go easy on the horror stories!

 

[Palindrome]

As much as I was keen to get back in the saddle it took me 6 months after baby was born. The doctor told me that as horse riders we are more likely to need an episiotomy because the perineum is well muscled and also it takes a bit of time to regain core muscle. My son was breastfead and he wanted to nurse all the time (as breastfead babies do but didn't know at the time!), but I did nip to the stables for some peaceful breaks with horsey from time to time. The good news is that when I rode again it was like I had never stopped, mare was as good as gold even after a 1 year break. I brought her back in work slowly as we were both unfit and found we have both matured during our break. I am more patient and she is less spooky. All in all a very positive experience .

 

[JAMESTOWN]

It was the inside of a week I didn't ride when I had my second baby! Back out competing again well before my 8 week check up. First one I needed stitches, so took a bit longer but still eventing again inside the 8 weeks. I think it depends a lot on how fit you were when you stopped riding - and of course what kind of delivery you have. Good luck!

 

[dark rider]

I was back riding 10 days after giving birth. It was just a quick hack but I felt fine. I left doing anything more strenuous until after the 6 week check up. Everything still fine. So if you and your horse are still fit and the delivery was a pretty normal one, I reckon your timetable is do-able.
Good luck!

 

[racingdemon]

i was back on board after both of mine within the first week or so, just for a hack, and then got back into it over the following weeks/months, the one thing i will say is do as much to strengthen your core as possible, after my first was born i got my horse super fit again, toddled off out hunting & promptly fell off because i wasnt as balanced or strong as i had assumed i would be, i was 'fit', i was riding everyday, but i wasn't strong, not like i'd been before, (& id only had about 8-10 weeks off actual riding, but i just hadnt appreciated what all that stretching had done to my tummy muscles!!!

 

[Firewell]

I had a level 2 tear and needed stiches but I was still back on board 3 weeks after my baby. The first time I rode I did a schooling session and it felt amazing to be able to canter around without needing the loo!
I was out competing a couple of weeks later.
The hardest thing was juggling riding with breastfeeding but I got into a routine and riding every day was (is) wonderful.
I do Yoga now, and my core strength, balance and flexibility riding is better now after children then it ever was before . Just don't attempt sit ups before 6 weeks (I did and ouch that was a mistake ).

 

[Orangehorse]

I remember loading up the trailer to go to an event, and went to pick up the water carrier to put into the back of the Land Rover - and nothing happened, it stayed on the ground!

This was a few weeks after the baby was born, as I didn't have a horse for a bit. OH was horrified when the new horse came down the ramp. "But you have got a baby to play with now, why do you need a horse?"

I know people want to get on and get going, but particularly in the hip and pelvis area, the joints have loosened (I don't know what the medical terms are) so I think it is probably wise to at least wait until the 6 week check-up as things are starting to return to something near normal. Don't overstrain anything.

But yes, things do go back to normal, as for competiting, it takes people in different ways, it didn't affect me with the first baby, but by number 3 I decided that I didn't really need a horse that bucked every time I rode it (should have kept the first one.)

 

[Joss]

I was similar to Firewell. Had a lot of stitches but back riding well within the month. tBh I think stitches just make things heal quicker. I found timing breast feeding & child(baby) care with riding time much the biggest issue. I was back competing within a couple of months but it was more like 6 months before fitness, fatness & feeding allowed it all to become much easier.

 

[Moomin1]

I had my baby three weeks ago, and I got back on my mare a week ago and did a twenty minute schooling session. I had a grade 2 tear and had stitches, but to be honest, I didn't feel them at all and they caused no discomfort whilst I was riding. I found that I was a little more 'wobbly' in rising trot than before pregnancy, but other than that not a huge amount different in all honesty. I did feel a little sick once I got off, which I know is down to lack of fitness (I stopped riding at 3 months pregnant, and I also have low haemoglobin). I will be taking it easy though, and probably won't get on again for another week or two now as I generally am feeling very weak and run down still, and haven't really recovered fully from the long and quite traumatic labour.

 

[ecrozier]

I went for my first hack exactly a week after I had my daughter and did our RC area dressage qualifier six weeks to the day after she was born! We managed a credible 67% and 6th place. My sharer had kept older boy fit. My younger sharper horse I probably first competed him about 2 months after my little girl arrived, started out at walk trot as he hadn't done much while I was heavily pregnant.

 

[lindsayH]

No personal experience but when I fence judged at MK in April I watched Zara go round 3 months after giving birth. In fact, I think she may have been riding two that day! I know we're not all Zara but I thought it was impressive and shows what's possible. Good luck and I hope you have a lovely Christmas with your new addition!

 

[orsceno1]

All I would say is don't put any pressure on yourself or have too many deadlines you feel you need to meet. I got back on 6 weeks after both of mine and gradually got fit again but I had bad spd with my second which made it harder. However you may well find that after baby arrives your priorities shift slightly (sleep becoming no 1!) and all babies are different in how easy they are, how much sleep you get etc which totally affects your ability to function as a normal person! I don't in any way want to sound negative as it is totally doable to get back to normal if you have good support but I think it's important to not put pressure on yourself as having a baby (especially if it's your first) is such a massive life changing thing. Good luck with baby and with getting back on ASAP!

 

[HotToTrot]

You'll nail it! I got back on after 3 weeks - I'd sent Vito away whilst preg, so I had to traipse off and retrieve him, and husband cunningly used this to make me wait a while before I got back on. He wanted me to take it steady, whereas I was raring to go!

I went eventing at 8 weeks. Vito had been kept fit, so he was fine, but I did have a "moment" in the XC warm up where my legs felt like jelly, I was incredibly weak and completely out of breath. My fitness took a real hit. However, it was at a level that I knew would be easy for us, so when the nerves and doubts kicked in about whether it was going to be ok from a post-birth perspective, I told myself that all I needed to do was stay on, stay in balance and stay positive.

One word of advice. Wear a towel. Super-sized. You will be incontinent.

 

[Moomin1]

You'll nail it! I got back on after 3 weeks - I'd sent Vito away whilst preg, so I had to traipse off and retrieve him, and husband cunningly used this to make me wait a while before I got back on. He wanted me to take it steady, whereas I was raring to go!

I went eventing at 8 weeks. Vito had been kept fit, so he was fine, but I did have a "moment" in the XC warm up where my legs felt like jelly, I was incredibly weak and completely out of breath. My fitness took a real hit. However, it was at a level that I knew would be easy for us, so when the nerves and doubts kicked in about whether it was going to be ok from a post-birth perspective, I told myself that all I needed to do was stay on, stay in balance and stay positive.

One word of advice. Wear a towel. Super-sized. You will be incontinent.

I have been back on board a few times now under the watchful eye of my instructor, who has brought my mare on whilst I was pregnant. I haven't felt a huge difference in myself to be honest, though rising trot I have to put a bit more effort in, and I can feel myself a bit more wobbly. I did however really notice a difference the other day when I attempted my first medium trot on my mare (she's fairly big and powerful) - I was really out of breath and my legs were shaky.

With regard the last bit of your post - no problems in that dept here thankfully.

 

[stencilface]

I didn't get on for nearly three months as when the mini sf was 2 weeks old I slipped a disc picking her up and was housebound for 3 weeks. Housebound in winter with a small baby, big dog and excruciating back pain is not something I'd recommend, I couldn't even stand or walk for longer than 2 mins It took another 10 weeks before I was anywhere near back to normal, and a heck of a lot of painkillers!

It took me a while before I could pick out feet again and not be totally crippled and its now over a year since mini sf was born and I've done 1 low key SJ event. But I went back to work when she was 6 months, she was bf and refused a bottle so it was me doing every feed or nothing, so time away was impossible. I'm looking forward to being able to ride once she's in bed next summer and get a fit horse back again as I only get out at weekends now and I love it

So yes, you don't have to be superwoman at everything, and tbh I wasn't even that bothered about riding once mini sf came along

 

[HotToTrot]

With regard the last bit of your post - no problems in that dept here thankfully.

What?! How?! C-section? Pelvic floor muscles made of kryptonite?!

 

[Newlands]

Don't put too much pressure on yourself but your goals are certainly doable! I had an episiotomy with my first and got back on after 3 weeks and it was too soon, returned from my hack (which felt amazing) in jockey position! As soon as I got back competing again I was pregnant with my daughter so returning after birth no 2 I struggled a bit with confidence from the extra long completion break. It will depend on your baby massively too as they are all different. Both my babies are so different, both breastfed but my son would happily stay with daddy and take a bottle but my daughter wouldn't so I do always need to be close on hand for her. Good luck! Babies are lovely and do work pretty well together with horses!

 

[Moomin1]

What?! How?! C-section? Pelvic floor muscles made of kryptonite?!

Umm, I'm not entirely sure how really, I am quite surprised (very pleasantly haha!) too. 23 hour horrible labour and normal delivery - but the delivery itself was very quick - only six pushes and she popped out! I didn't really bother doing many pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy, so not sure how I've got away with it... :-/

 

[stencilface]

I haven't weed myself either but I didn't get on so quickly, 5 hour induced labour, not that many pushes either. Labial stitches both sides though, yeouch!

 

[Moomin1]

I haven't weed myself either but I didn't get on so quickly, 5 hour induced labour, not that many pushes either. Labial stitches both sides though, yeouch!

Yes I had stitches too SF. Not the most pleasant really. But I found the induced labour the worst part - Syntocin...the devil's work! Lol!

 

[stencilface]

Yes I had stitches too SF. Not the most pleasant really. But I found the induced labour the worst part - Syntocin...the devil's work! Lol!

I was on it for 3.5 hours with nothing happening then it hit me like a train, quite something!

 

[claire_p2001]

I had my baby 8 weeks ago by c section I got back on after 6 weeks and felt fine! Only thing I struggled with was getting off at first but now Ive mastered that. My horse has been on holiday so furry and unfit we are forced to take things slowly, I'm hoping to be back jumping in December and competing in January. I'm breastfeeding so rides have to be timed to perfection to ensure baby isn't screaming for me when I get back! Good luck hope everything goes well for you.

 

[Lanky Loll]

I had a c-section and did wait the advised 6 weeks before riding again, although the advised 6 weeks of walk only went out the window when madam bogged off with me around the field. Thankfully this just proved that nothing hurt so I carried on as normal. The section had knackered my core muscles but lots of mucking out, pilates, and since I've been back at work some serious core workouts mean that I'm currently fitter than I've ever been!
I wasn't in a hurry to compete when I came back as my horse wasn't ready to go out - I'd been in the process of retraining her post racing when I fell pregnant, and she spent part of my pregnancy just doing fun rides and being a hoolly so I pretty much had to start from scratch with her flatwork etc. Thankfully my mum was happy to do baby duty so we got a routine sorted where I could do the horses around the sprog that worked pretty well and I made the most of my mat.leave fitting in lessons etc that I don't have time for now I'm back at work.

 

[MagicMelon]

I think it depends how your birth went as to how quick you want to get back on board again. I had an emergency c-section which I was totally knocked out for and had complications so it meant I was in bed in the days after so my c-section area was extremely painful (I've heard they're fine if you move about quickly afterwards which I couldn't). I was on blood pressure pills for a few weeks after too so felt dizzy very quickly. Saying that though, even though it was hell if I'm honest for those few weeks - by the 5th week I began backing a welsh cob! Then got chucked off it in the 6th week and then big time off it a week after that! Had a break of about a month (no rideable horse!) then got given a new horse who I immediately took out competing BS up to 1.10m again. Definately noticed my balance wasn't anything like it used to be though. 2 years on, I still feel my core hasn't gone back to how it used to be so am taking weekly pilates classes. C-sections seriously screw up your core muscles, my body has been ruined!

 

[Lisamd]

Thanks for all your posts, really positive stuff! It feels like ages ago I posted the original thread...since then baby Harriet arrived 9 days early on the 12th Nov at 7lb 8oz, natural birth with gas and air in a pool, she is AMAZING! I was back in normal jeans after 2 days and got back on the quieter of the boys 9 days later and felt fine, aiming to get back on the wilder one this weekend! Paracetamol and plenty of arnica helped post baby with any swelling, I did have two stitches but again all quite comfortable. I am only hacking atm, planning to do so for the whole of Dec as they have had so much time off. Will crack on in Jan with some lessons, jumping and a few days hunting. I must say, having not been a massively maternal person prior to H's arrival, I have been blown away by how much love, pride and adoration you can have for something so small and so new!

 

[j1ffy]

Wow congratulations!! It sounds like it's all going smoothly .

 

[Palindrome]

congrats!!!!