Riding after giving birth - if you had a choice of "methods"....

[Fools Motto]

I had 1 emergency c- sec, and 1 elective. Recovered VERY quickly, felt totally well and was back on board within the month both times. Would have been a few days sooner if i had my way, but I compromised with the midwives!! Never had any issues, apart from slight leakage at times - that is normal isn't it??!!
If you're fit and well, regardless of age, you can do what you want. Good luck.
PS - I recommend scrubbing floors and yoga! (gentle)

 

[alainax]

I am also 35 weeks atm. With my first baby I have a scan at 36 weeks, and to see the consultant at 37 weeks. The reason is my BMI, so I am also in the situation where they might be making suggestions about delivery type. Baby is not breech and I am hoping for a natural birth and to get back in the saddle asap afterwards.

I would just say to listen to their advice in terms of what will be best for you and your baby, but do not feel pressured into doing something just because your age puts you into some wee statistical box. - And definitely try every trick in the book to turn that baby


If you and baby are happy and healthy, and the labour could start naturally, then go for it

 

[Moomin1]

I had an induced 23 hour occiput posterior/back to back labour which was the most horrific experience I have ever had in my life. I begged them numerous times to cut my baby out there and then throughout the labour but they refused as my baby was happy as Larry waiting around in there lol. I suffered back pain from my baby crushing my spinal nerves and still have the same pain (on a much smaller scale now, nearly 9mths later). I had 2 second degree tears which were stitched and numerous first degree tears. If I am to have another posterior facing baby next time I will be opting for elective c section most likely as I honestly cannot face that pain and the long labour which usually goes with posterior labours. I honestly felt so ill and weak for two months or so after I had my daughter that I used to have to sit down half way up the stairs. As for the stitching, I had no problems whatsoever and barely felt them at all. I rode two weeks after I had my daughter (ie walk and trot for ten mins) and I didn't feel the stitches at all. Core strength wise, I found my stability was much worse and I tended to collapse slightly through my back and shoulders when I was schooling, but in time it has improved massively.

In a nutshell, with regards the care side of having my horse, I would be stuffed if I had to have a c section as she's on DIY and is a big flighty horse to handle. However, the fear of another posterior labour and the subsequent exhaustion and back pain outweighs it for me, so I would most likely opt for c section next time. I didn't have the energy to ride properly for months due to my labour anyway, so in all likelihood I would have recovered much quicker post section. As someone has mentioned, most breech babies turn prior to birth anyway, as do most posteriors (or so I was told at the time), however mine didn't, typically . On the other hand though, painful though it was, it was the most amazing unique empowering experience I have ever, and probably will ever go through and I wouldn't change that for the world now.

 

[Moomin1]

My nanny was a midwife, many many years ago. She's been dead 7 years and was nearly 100 when she died. Just to give you an idea of the time scales!
When expecting my youngest she was either breech or transverse and at 38 weeks with no sign of moving I was booked for a cs. I duly rang my nanny who told me to get down on my hands & knees and wash the floors. Every day, twice a day if needed!!! She said baby would soon turn and she did at 38 weeks & 4 days. Apparently this works with gravity & the body and was considered normal in her day. She said it rarely failed. Take from it what you will,but it worked for me and it has worked for 4 people I've told it too. What have you got to lose? Xx

I think this is a good bit of advice and from what I gather it is highly effective. I did all of this as I was advised when I was told my baby was posterior at around 36weeks and she DID turn at around 37-38 weeks, but unfortunately I must be in the 'rare' category and she flipped back posterior, causing my back waters to break, which subsequently meant I had to be induced as there was no onset of labour and the risk of infection rocketed. Once my main waters then broke, my baby dropped straight down onto my spinal nerves and I had to have the highest dose of Syntocin for 22 hours in order to make her turn ready for delivery which finally happened at 23 hours, 50 minutes away from an emergency c section.

 

[Mariposa]

Obviously the health of baby is priority number 1, so I would of course make any choice based on that - but like I said, if all other things were equal, which would you prefer?

I have a 15 month old, and I had her naturally and was back in the saddle immediately after my 6 week check.
Physically I felt absolutely fine to get back in the saddle ( apart from having to wear 2 sports bras!) but mentally I wasn't ready to compete again, and I started competing again far far too soon, and really rattled my confidence.

Just give yourself time, don't rush it.

 

[now_loves_mares]

I've had both. Caesarean, breech baby that was turned by doc and then immediately flipped back. Then a vaginal but with a ventouse and lots of horrid tearing etc. But I would still opt for the latter in terms of recovery (and was fair bit older then). Neither is fun! Envy women who just seem to pop them out!

Definitely agree it's the lesser of two evils, nothing fun about it. We've decided not to go for the ECV as it's quite risky and not got that high a success rate.

I had a horrendous emergency section at 36 weeks, due to baby being in distress. I lost over 1 litre of blood, it wasn't pretty. My baby got taken to the NICU in the early hours and I was told the only way I could see her was if I could get out of bed and in a wheelchair, cue me trying to get up and bursting a couple of stitches.
My OH got thrown in at the deep end and had to do everything. Her care was mainly attended to by the neonatal nurses but when we visited he did all feeds, all changes etc.

That said, after 4 days and copious amounts of morphine I was able to get in and out of bed and the wheelchair with little help, and was fine, if a little tender, by day 6. My OH only had 5 days of paternity leave once we were discharged so I didn't rest at all, knowing I had to get on and cope else I'd be lost when he was back at work.

Since being discharged I've had no problems whatsoever, I carried her in her car seat around Mothercare the day after discharge, all normal chores were not a problem. Initially sore and I did feel it when I sat down, but I'm now 6 weeks post section and dying to start exercising and running again. Not ridden yet but that's mainly due to my horse being out on loan, although I'm welcome to ride any time I want. I would imagine riding would be no issue.

I was VERY anti section, didn't want one at all, but apart from those initial few days it's not been too bad. I imagine an elective section would be far nicer!

That sounds very scary for you, I'm glad everyone is fine. I do like the certainty of the planned section, for sure.

Haha everyone has a story I expect you might just be left feeling more muddled! Anyway here's mine lol I had a section and was riding again after 4 weeks as I was nuts and wanted to get back on with it.
Basically there are pros and cons to both way I wouldn't fret about it too much your baby still has time to turn. I'd take a call on it once you've spoken to the consultant.
Good luck and congrats x

Thanks . I asked for the stories, don't worry! You always get more balanced ones from horsey people anyway.

I had forceps delivery and episiotomy and rode after 2 weeks. I kept riding lightly till 37 though so didn't entirely lose muscle strength but took a while to regain core and feel effective again. Best of luck with your birth and hope the bubba turns for you x

Thank you. . I haven't ridden at all sadly, but I've been told my muscles are still strong. I hope they recover well, my bump seems small and tight but who knows.

I had 1 emergency c- sec, and 1 elective. Recovered VERY quickly, felt totally well and was back on board within the month both times. Would have been a few days sooner if i had my way, but I compromised with the midwives!! Never had any issues, apart from slight leakage at times - that is normal isn't it??!!
If you're fit and well, regardless of age, you can do what you want. Good luck.
PS - I recommend scrubbing floors and yoga! (gentle)

Err leakage? Lochia? Milk? Or from the scars???? And does scrubbing the stable floor count?!

I am also 35 weeks atm. With my first baby I have a scan at 36 weeks, and to see the consultant at 37 weeks. The reason is my BMI, so I am also in the situation where they might be making suggestions about delivery type. Baby is not breech and I am hoping for a natural birth and to get back in the saddle asap afterwards.

I would just say to listen to their advice in terms of what will be best for you and your baby, but do not feel pressured into doing something just because your age puts you into some wee statistical box. - And definitely try every trick in the book to turn that baby


If you and baby are happy and healthy, and the labour could start naturally, then go for it

Thanks and congrats, we can share stories after . There is a small increased risk of stillbirth in older mothers if you go over term due to potential placenta failure. It's hard to know whether I'm brave enough to take that risk, even though I've had a very easy and healthy pregnancy so far.

I had an induced 23 hour occiput posterior/back to back labour which was the most horrific experience I have ever had in my life. I begged them numerous times to cut my baby out there and then throughout the labour but they refused as my baby was happy as Larry waiting around in there lol. I suffered back pain from my baby crushing my spinal nerves and still have the same pain (on a much smaller scale now, nearly 9mths later). I had 2 second degree tears which were stitched and numerous first degree tears. If I am to have another posterior facing baby next time I will be opting for elective c section most likely as I honestly cannot face that pain and the long labour which usually goes with posterior labours. I honestly felt so ill and weak for two months or so after I had my daughter that I used to have to sit down half way up the stairs. As for the stitching, I had no problems whatsoever and barely felt them at all. I rode two weeks after I had my daughter (ie walk and trot for ten mins) and I didn't feel the stitches at all. Core strength wise, I found my stability was much worse and I tended to collapse slightly through my back and shoulders when I was schooling, but in time it has improved massively.

In a nutshell, with regards the care side of having my horse, I would be stuffed if I had to have a c section as she's on DIY and is a big flighty horse to handle. However, the fear of another posterior labour and the subsequent exhaustion and back pain outweighs it for me, so I would most likely opt for c section next time. I didn't have the energy to ride properly for months due to my labour anyway, so in all likelihood I would have recovered much quicker post section. As someone has mentioned, most breech babies turn prior to birth anyway, as do most posteriors (or so I was told at the time), however mine didn't, typically . On the other hand though, painful though it was, it was the most amazing unique empowering experience I have ever, and probably will ever go through and I wouldn't change that for the world now.

Gosh that sounds brutal, I've heard back to back can be incredibly painful. But it sounds like you've managed to rationalise it somehow, despite the damage and terrible memories. You sound very strong .

 

[now_loves_mares]

I have a 15 month old, and I had her naturally and was back in the saddle immediately after my 6 week check.
Physically I felt absolutely fine to get back in the saddle ( apart from having to wear 2 sports bras!) but mentally I wasn't ready to compete again, and I started competing again far far too soon, and really rattled my confidence.

Just give yourself time, don't rush it.

That's good advice thank you. To be honest I think it will be next year before I compete, but I just want to be able to hack out and do a bit of schooling for now.

 

[JLD]

I had a long difficult labour with loads of stitches with my first and an elective cs with my twins as one was breech although somehow managed to turn the night before my section - no idea how he found space as they were 6 and 7 lbs but he did. I went ahead with planned section anyway ( didn't say I thought he had turned !) as had childcare and animal care all sorted and didn't fancy a twin delivery like my first. I recovered much faster from my section than the long labour and messy delivery. I was back riding in the same sort of time but was much less 'ill' and bounced back quicker after the second even with new born twins and a toddler to contend with !

 

[Moomin1]

Gosh that sounds brutal, I've heard back to back can be incredibly painful. But it sounds like you've managed to rationalise it somehow, despite the damage and terrible memories. You sound very strong .

Thankyou, though I don't know about strong - I still battle with myself as to whether I could bring myself to go through it all again. The memory has faded but it is very common to have a subsequent posterior labour apparently if you have already had one.

Whatever you decide you will have an incredible and unique experience anyway, that's for certain

 

[minkymoo]

I was back on by 6 weeks. I gave birth naturally, but had to have a little snip (!) and tore my umm bum so to speak. Although I rode, my bum injury didn't heal for months but riding didn't help nor hinder recovery (so I was led to believe anyway!).

The upshot is that you will simply have to see how you feel after whichever way you give birth. Your core will be screwed be it either natural or cs and you honestly may not feel like riding for a while.

Giving birth is one of those great unknown things, I had a fairly easy labour compared to my sister for example but then her baby popped out after 30 hours of labour whereas mine took an hour after 7 hours...

Either way, see how you feel. Good luck, it's a wonderful thing to be holding this tiny little person in your arm, and the rush of love you get, well, nothing can prepare you for that!

 

[OldNag]

My nanny was a midwife, many many years ago. She's been dead 7 years and was nearly 100 when she died. Just to give you an idea of the time scales!
When expecting my youngest she was either breech or transverse and at 38 weeks with no sign of moving I was booked for a cs. I duly rang my nanny who told me to get down on my hands & knees and wash the floors. Every day, twice a day if needed!!! She said baby would soon turn and she did at 38 weeks & 4 days. Apparently this works with gravity & the body and was considered normal in her day. She said it rarely failed. Take from it what you will,but it worked for me and it has worked for 4 people I've told it too. What have you got to lose? Xx

My first was breech at 37 weeks and my mum (who was a midwife in the 60s) told me to do similar. It worked!

Good luck with your baby.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I wanted home water births for both of mine. Ended up having epidural and ventouse delivery with 1st after a very long latent phase of labour. No tears, no cuts or stitching (had ridden up to 32wks) and was back in the saddle 7 days later!

2nd son was born at home. No drugs etc but I did a course of hypotherapy. A brilliant birth and I'd do it all again. I started riding 9 days after giving birth but started bleeding again and was told off by the midwife. I waited another 10 days til it had settled down again.

I hope all goes well for you. At the end of the day the most important thing is that your baby is delivered safely.

 

[MagicMelon]

I imagine most people will probably want whatever they didn't have! I ended up getting a c-section but it was an emergency general anaesthetic one, so I wasn't able to be up and moving about quickly afterwards (which I'm told is the key if you have a normal one). As a result, it was extremely painful and I couldn't stand upright for a good 2 weeks after. Although somehow I did begin backing a horse at 5 weeks! It really mucked up my core muscles though, but that could have been just the pregnancy and may have happened anyway. You're not meant to do much until 6 weeks though so thats probably what your doctor will tell you, but considering how horrific it is early on, once it gets healing, I felt better pretty quickly. By choice Id have wanted just a straight forward natural birth and those who get that are very lucky (with no tears etc.!).

 

[Moomin1]

I imagine most people will probably want whatever they didn't have! I ended up getting a c-section but it was an emergency general anaesthetic one, so I wasn't able to be up and moving about quickly afterwards (which I'm told is the key if you have a normal one). As a result, it was extremely painful and I couldn't stand upright for a good 2 weeks after. Although somehow I did begin backing a horse at 5 weeks! It really mucked up my core muscles though, but that could have been just the pregnancy and may have happened anyway. You're not meant to do much until 6 weeks though so thats probably what your doctor will tell you, but considering how horrific it is early on, once it gets healing, I felt better pretty quickly. By choice Id have wanted just a straight forward natural birth and those who get that are very lucky (with no tears etc.!).

Tbh the tears weren't even noticeable to me. I didn't feel them happening and although I could feel them being stitched up, I couldn't give a monkey's bum by that point because I was so relieved it was all over. The stitches didn't hurt afterwards either though I know for some people they can be problematic. I suppose it's whereabouts the tears occur that's the key thing. I def think an uncomplicated straightforward natural birth would be preferable to anything else. The problem is, you never know whether you will get dealt one of those until the time comes lol.

 

[MagicMelon]

That's the problem Moomin, you just can't plan - I don't know why they bother to get you to write a birthing plan when I don't know anyone who manages to stick to it! A friend ended up with stitches and I remember her saying it was horrible but like anything it really depends, same as my c-section being horrific and yet another friend having a "normal" one and thinking nothing of it. I always feel a bit of a cheat (even though I did suffer!) because I never even went into labour so have never felt a contraction which is a bit odd.

 

[Moomin1]

That's the problem Moomin, you just can't plan - I don't know why they bother to get you to write a birthing plan when I don't know anyone who manages to stick to it! A friend ended up with stitches and I remember her saying it was horrible but like anything it really depends, same as my c-section being horrific and yet another friend having a "normal" one and thinking nothing of it. I always feel a bit of a cheat (even though I did suffer!) because I never even went into labour so have never felt a contraction which is a bit odd.

I remember when my midwife asked me what my birth plan was my instant response was to say "to panic like hell and get the thing out fast!" lol. I really don't see the point in them at all.

To be honest I couldn't say what a 'typical/normal' contraction was like because my back pain drowned them out completely. I remember a couple of contractions to start with but then my waters broke and my baby dropped down onto my spinal nerves and that took all my attention over the actual contractions. I don't really think there's any cheating in any form of having a baby, natural or section - it's all a massive trauma on the body either way and a life changing event.

 

[laura_nash]

That's the problem Moomin, you just can't plan - I don't know why they bother to get you to write a birthing plan when I don't know anyone who manages to stick to it!

I know I was very lucky but I basically stuck to my birthing plan! There were a couple of issues of course, like having to wait for the birthing pool, but on the whole I stuck to it pretty closely. I had a straightforward birth in the pool at a midwife-led birthing unit on a hospital site. No pain relief needed, no damage to speak of (a couple of tiny external tears that didn't need stitches) and went home that evening.

I realise a lot was down to luck but I did EVERYTHING I could find to get that result, including a private midwife course that included hypnotherapy sessions, changing my chair at work to an exercise ball, crawling downstairs head first each morning (to avoid a breach), drinking raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil tablets "inserted" for the last week etc.

I could have probably been back in the saddle a couple of weeks later, but actually didn't ride for around 2 months after the birth purely by choice.

 

[Home_free]

I was 40 when I had my son and had a short but dramatic natural delivery. Was desperate to get back on my neddy, who was on loan, but waited til I think 8 weeks - I'd had lots of friends who'd got back on board sooner but I do think being older made recovery slower ! First time I sat on her was fab until she coughed and I nearly fell off the side in walk! The best news though is that I rode off and on the first 6 months wobbling and thinking I'd never get my core back but actually as soon as my mare came back off loan I realised the fastest way to get my body back for riding was.....riding

 

[Moomin1]

I was 40 when I had my son and had a short but dramatic natural delivery. Was desperate to get back on my neddy, who was on loan, but waited til I think 8 weeks - I'd had lots of friends who'd got back on board sooner but I do think being older made recovery slower ! First time I sat on her was fab until she coughed and I nearly fell off the side in walk! The best news though is that I rode off and on the first 6 months wobbling and thinking I'd never get my core back but actually as soon as my mare came back off loan I realised the fastest way to get my body back for riding was.....riding

Yep, spot on IMO. My instructor schooled my horse whilst I was pregnant, and when I was strong enough to get back on and start riding her properly after having my baby (probably after about 2/3mths) he started my lessons by riding for 15mins or so himself and then giving me a 10-15 min lesson, then over the following weeks building that up more and more, until eventually I got back to pretty much my pre-pregnancy riding ability core wise. I am still not 100% in that I don't look quite as neat and tidy in my riding as I used to, but I am much much better than I was a few months back. I have about 2-3 lessons per week and school alone an extra one time per week usually.

 

[njc]

Hi apologies I haven't read all replies . I had my first baby at the age of 41 I was booked to be induced at 38 weeks then he went breech threatened with a section turned round I was induced but it didn't work so got the drip and a natural birth (ish) used the kiwi ( suction cup) it fell off had a 3rd degree tear and stitches. The good news is I healed very quickly and was up for riding a week later. So a fairly difficult natural birth but a much quicker recovery than a section is predicted to have

 

[njc]

Similar to moomin I was back to back and they started induction on tues I eventually went into labour on Friday and gave birth at 5am on sat
My horse was a feisty 4 yr old who'd been turned away for 9 months ( I had a difficult pregnancy near miscarriage high blood pressure) so no riding during pregnancy especially on a just backed horse. I had no problems handling him the biggest issue was tiredness I breast fed and got very little sleep for the first 2 months
Good luck and best wishes I was just very thankful for a healthy baby everything else was a bit irrelevant

 

[Moomin1]

Similar to moomin I was back to back and they started induction on tues I eventually went into labour on Friday and gave birth at 5am on sat
My horse was a feisty 4 yr old who'd been turned away for 9 months ( I had a difficult pregnancy near miscarriage high blood pressure) so no riding during pregnancy especially on a just backed horse. I had no problems handling him the biggest issue was tiredness I breast fed and got very little sleep for the first 2 months
Good luck and best wishes I was just very thankful for a healthy baby everything else was a bit irrelevant

That's interesting njc, can I ask had your waters broken prior to going into labour at all?

 

[njc]

No I was being induced for high blood pressure ( pregnancy in duced) so they tried the pessary twice they were still talking section on Friday but then a Dr thought I'd started enough so they broke my waters then had to get going with the syntocin drip to progress the labour I found out afterwards that my blood pressure medication can be used to slow premature labour, no wonder it wasn't working

 

[buddylove]

My eldest was a natural birth, I had to have an episiotomy with him, but honestly cannot remember it giving me any significant pain or discomfort. It was rather a long Labour though and I got through a shed load of drugs, resulting in a baby that was too stoned to feed for a few days and ended up staying in with jaundice! You wouldn't think it now as he is a strapping 7 year old who towers over his classmates!
So with the next pregnancy I was determined to reduce the drugs but fate intervened and we got pregnant with twins! Awkward little monkeys stayed in the same position the whole way through. T1 breech and T2 transverse, so I had to have a C section at 37 weeks. My recovery sticks in my mind not from pain from the incision but pain from trapped wind under my ribs where there had obviously been some displacement of organs from T2. It was horrible, and lasted for weeks, episiotomy every time for me! Although I now have more than enough kids and will not be going there again!

 

[Toffee44]

I advise most horse riders wait until 6weeks post section.

After a natural birth whenever you feel comfortable again. Maybe only ride 15min a time for a bit. Start doing pelvic floor exercises as soon as you can this will
Help your core strength a bit too. If your breast feeding sometimes a good idea to wear a sports bra over a nursing bra for good support.

You have listened to your body during a pregnancy for 9 months so just keep listening.

 

[DanceswithCows]

I had a c section and was back riding again within 3 months (and clipping sheep within weeks!). I had dreaded the possibility of a csec because i thought you'd have to spend 6mo in bed after, but in the event it was quick and virtually painless and I bounced right back. Some of the girls on my ward had a quick, good natural birth and were quicker on their feet and home than me, but the ones who'd had a bad time of it and some then had to go on to have an emergency csec looked like they were war casualties! Mine was breech too and I'm going to opt for a csec next time if I get the option aswell! I know a lot of people are very attached to the naturalness of the proper birth experience but I'm not in the slightest, i think its wonderful we had the expertise and equipment now to bypass the whole horrible process!

 

[now_loves_mares]

Thanks everyone for the replies, even if it has gone a bit Mumsnet - sorry to all those who didn't know what they were about to read

Thanks also for the good wishes, it's all looming quickly now. As pointed out by a couple of people (and me in my first post) all or any decisions will be taken with baby's health in mind first and foremost. I am however much reassured that even those with quite tough natural births didn't necessarily have that long a recovery in terms of riding. I had it in my head that an episiotomy or tear would mean months off riding but doesn't seem to be the case. Sounds like, more than anything, my restriction will be time and energy. But nothing new about that, and at least I don't have to fit in work, for a while at least.

Consultant tomorrow so let's see if the awkward little bump has made a move. I'm not hopeful though.

 

[marmalade76]

I've had two naturally and was in no hurry to get back on! That said, I was on by six weeks and would rather that than a c section.

 

[TGM]

I guess though I'm trying to gauge if even a "bad" natural birth might be better, purely from a riding perspective, of a "good" CS. You mentioned months before being back on board after a CS - this does not sound good at all. My poor fat pony!

I had what you would probably class as a 'bad' natural birth. I was induced, baby had shoulder dystocia, and I ended up with a ventouse delivery, serious tears and it took a long time to stitch me up afterwards. However, I was back riding within a fortnight with no pain or problems whatsoever.

 

[Shazzababs]

I had an emergency C-Section (I was the later side of 35).

I tried riding again after 6 weeks, riding OK, but getting off was agony. Tried again after 10 weeks and it was OK but it took a long time for my core strength to return. I'd stopped riding completely at 5 months due to my horse being an occasional bucker, so there was a fairly large gap to come back from.

OP, I think as you can see everyone is different. You will have to just wait and see. I don't want to worry you, but if you are not blessed with an easy baby, or you don't have lots of help (local relatives, doting grandmas and aunties etc.), you may find yourself too exhausted to ride for the first 3 or 4 months anyway.

I hope it all goes well for you!