Riding when pregnant - sitting trot

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SouthWestWhippet

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Haven't been here for a while but I just wondered if some of you lovely people who have ridden through pregnancies could give me some advice.

I'm 22 weeks, showing less that average although baby very wriggly and 20week ultrasound showed everything normal. I'm still happily riding, was riding regularly before - at least once a day - so am resonably riding fit. Not jumping though, just concentrating on schooling.

I'm starting to struggle with the sitting trot though, I can't find those low down stomach muscles and after riding I do get some discomfort/mild pain in my lower stomach which I attribute to trying to balance and control my pony in sitting trot. Sadly my sharp pony goes much better in sitting trot as he uses the 'rise' part of rising trot to rush away from me. I think this is also as I am not as supple in my hips as I was and I lose contact with his sides when I rise (pushing off my sittrups and knee more than rising through my thigh/hip/pelvis).

anyone have any advice as to how to make it easier? Or is this just something I need to gracefully accept? How long were you able to ride comfortably in sitting trot? And did you notice that your lower body position was not as 'correct' as it once was when you were pregnant?

I think baby loves riding BTW, (s)he is a wriggler (!) but never moves a muscle when I'm riding, I think the rhythmic movement is really soothing
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i had to stop sitting trot at about 20ish weeks... instead i ended up doing standing trot (when asking for canter etc) which was random, but worked for us (for a while).

i also stopped all stirrupless work at that time as i found having a deep seat put too much pressure onto my hips/base of abdomen. i ended up with hip problems (they seperated too much, too quickly) so i had to have physio.

good luck! listen to your body! xxx
 
SWWhippet,
I'm not sure as am on my first pregnany, but just wanted to ask you, as you are someone who lives near me: a) what are the midwives like round here? b) Is it true we don't get our dating scans til 16 weeks, instead of 12?
 
I noticed it more with the second one I think but it does get difficult.

Sadly I think it's a case of doing the best you can (so whatever works for you) without causing yourself too much discomfort.

You should find your hips free up again though so this may be a passing phase.
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I didn't know I was pregnant and had smoked and drank and fell off all through my pregnancy (I was 18).

When I was 4 months pregnant I fell quite badly from my horse causing temporary blindness, damaged ribs and a head injury.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant (a month after the fall) I was very careful and did nothing risky.

It was too late by then. My son was born with autism.

No-one knows where autism comes from but I have to live with my concience and the wonder if I caused it.

I'm not saying that pregnant women should act like they're made of glass. But it is difficult to live with the guilt if anything goes wrong.
 
its a tricky one. I started feeling more uncomforable at about 20 weeks and by 30 was too cumbersome, I also did the standing in stirrups during transitions. After about 24 weeks I was convinced that I would wet myself in sitting trot too, fortunately I didnt but it was enough to stop my teenage daughter from nicking my seat saver he he he.

I think if things ae getting painful it might be time to listen to your body and slow down. My latter pregnancy rides were lots of walking and working on bending and stretching so not totaly wasted. I got my teenage daughter to give my mare a good 'blast' from time to time, or you could try lunging or free schooling.
 
LOL at the seat saver magicmillbrook - I definiately find I need to rush to the loo immediately after riding. although I seem to need to rush to the loo about 200 times per day anyway!!!!

Thanks for everyone's comments, I suspect my body is telling me to lay off the sitting trot... I guess I'm not used to allowing discomfort to change my behaviour around horses - I usually assume it is a good thing and shows muscles have been working. I rode today and tried a bit of rising trot but could feel myself getting frustrated at myself so focused more on lateral work in the walk wherein I had some lovely moments.

Oberon - I appreciate what you are saying. I work in a RDA centre with many wonderful autistic adults and children so I know how challenging (and rewarding) it can be at times. I am definitely taking it very easy on the riding front now I am pregnant - I only ride my pony and the RDA ponies (bombproof
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) and I only do flatwork and hacking but you are right that riding is a risk sport... for me I weighed up the mental distress and frustration of giving it up versus the risk and found a balance that worked for me. I obviously need to listen to my body more though on the sitting trot front.

Lankydoodle - can't help you much I'm afraid because my midwife is out Langport way. I've seen two so far and like one and loathed the other so I think you get what you get. I didn't have a dating scan so I don't know when they are usually done but I would be surprised if it was as late as 16weeks, that does seem odd as you'll be due a 20week one only 4 weeks later. I had my '20 week' scan at 21 weeks so about on schedule.

I know the birthing centre at Musgrove is supposed to be fairly nice but I'm having a home birth if all goes to plan so haven't seen it for myself. Good luck though. Are you having problems locally?
 
I had to give up sitting trot when I got too big, can't remember exactly when. What I do remember is having terrible stomach pains and having to call the doctor out, yelling loudly while he probed. Turned out that I had pulled ALL my stomach muscles while riding - the doctor reckoned that as my belly swelled my muscles were literally bouncing off my womb and too much sitting trot made me pull them/ brusie them, like whatever.
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So defo, as everyone lese says, listen to what your body is saying and don't be a martyr!
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Hi SWW,

I tried to book a booking appt, and have been given one at almost 11 weeks; I have also been told that dating scans are usually around 16 weeks in the Taunton Deane area, although my friend in Yeovil had hers on time at 12 weeks. I haven't had problems as such yet because I haven't received any care sadly.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and sorry i couldn't help more, but I haven't experienced it myself yet.
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