Would you climb a Munro when pregnant?

[sambucusnigra]

Hi,
My wife has just found out she's around 6 weeks pregnant. Brilliant news.

The thing is, next weekend it's her birthday and i'd planned a surprise trip to the Highlands, including an 11mile hike up a Munro (a hill more than 3000' high) as her birthday treat. We are seasoned hill walkers and the trip i've got in mind would usually be no bigger deal for her than eating a bowl of cornflakes. It's not dangerous at this time of year, just strenuous with some steep sections.

I know she'd absolutely love the trip. However, the last thing i want to do is needlessly increase the risk of miscarriage. I also know that she doesn't want to spend the coming months living in a protective cage and is determined to continue with her work etc (she does (often demanding) physical work on a farm).

As i write this i realise that there are hundreds of alternative birthday surprise weekends that needn't give me (or her) a dilemma -- so why proceed with this one?? Nonetheless i would be very interested to hear other people's opinions on what is or isn't wise for a woman in the early stages of preganncy to do.

Thanks everyone

[TitusAndromedon]

I don't think there would be an increased risk of miscarriage. The greatest difficulty is likely to be that she is feeling more tires and possibly unwell at that early stage.

I spent weeks five and six of pregnancy in Thailand swimming in the sea, walking around cities, going on zip wires and doing all sorts of other activities. I felt great most of the time, and am now 31 weeks with twins. However, I'm not prone to sickness, and by about eight weeks I was utterly exhausted. It's difficult to know whether or not the hike will be something she's up for. I would explore some alternatives, just in case.

Congratulations!

[TheSwallowingHandmaiden]

I walked around the world when I was 23 weeks pregnant. Got back yesterday.

[Junosmum]

They advise walking and continuing with exercise you did pre-pregnancy. So if she's a seasoned walker and isn't experiencing the morning sickness/ tiredness she should be fine- I'd certainly have done it (and if I wasn't currently in maternity assessment would do it now!). Enjoy, and congratulations.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

I walked up Inglebrough in the Yorkshire Dales at about 10 weeks pregnant and it was fine although I puffed and wheezed a lot more than usual (we are also hillwalkers although I suspect your wife is fitter than me!).. Very glad I did as now at 34 weeks I have bad pelvic pain and can just about hobble to the bus stop

If she is well and in good general health it should be absolutely fine. One problem that may interfere with the trip is if she gets hit with morning (often all day) sickness. I foolishly thought morning sickness was a quick spew up in the morning and off we go, but I felt crap for weeks and would not have been able to walk up a hill or mountain. And I didn't really get it all that bad. But your wife may be lucky. It all depends on how she feels.

Congratulations by the way and what a lovely gesture - wish my husband would surprise me with a weekend away!

[Blarblarblar]

She can and no harm.
Just bare in mind that as others have said the first three months can be exhausting for some woman. I was asleep on the couch after work everyday with both of mine. So she might not be much fun once your finished and back in your cosey hotel.
Congratulations and enjoy the highlands are the best

[BikeRunSki]

I would have, just depends how she is feeling. At 7 weeks I wS sksibk k could barely move, but at 7 weeks I was skiing and I was mountain biking at 26 weeks. Maybe plan for the walk to take longer than you'd normally allow for.

[BikeRunSki]

Aaarrgh! The start of that second sentence should be "At 7 weeks I was so sick I could barely move, but at 6 weeks....".

[Haggisfish]

I was so exhausted in the first twelve weeks I almost fell asleep on the grass while walking my dog! If still plan it but be prepared for a possible change of plan if she's exhausted or suffering morning sickness.

[savasana]

I meandered up Snowdon at 23 weeks. No idea how that compares to a Munro!

[LurcioAgain]

Occasional Munro bagger and rock climber/mountaineer here! Key thing is let yourself be guided by her - have a fall back plan of a flattish walk or completely easy activity if she doesn't feel up to it.

I was wiped out for whole of first trimester and couldn't manage even the gentlest of inclines at this point, good friend dis th Cuillin ridge at a similar stage.

And don't worry about miscarriage - normal levels of exercise really don't affect the foetus adversely.

[mummytime]

If it's a "nice" one like Loch Nagar, then it should be no problem - unless she has excess nausea/sickness. Although I often felt better when out and away from food smells.

So I'd go for it, but be prepared for a more restful alternative if she can't face it.

It would carry no more risk of miscarriage than normal life. (Ice axes etc. I might caution against.)

[LurcioAgain]

Grr phone - "did the"

[capercaillie]

I managed a multi-day hike and sea kayak trip in Norway at 8 weeks pregnant. I was more tired than usual but coped fine. Nor would I have even contemplated cancelling it. I would say go - bear in mind that the 1 day walk may be fine but 2 days might be too much. Or have a shorter route as an option as well.

[randomsabreuse]

Went skiing at 12 weeks just stuck to a lower (dolomites) resort. No issues as didn't have morning sickness.

[pictish]

Yes...would have and have done. No worries there.

[TheHelpfulHiker]

I climbed Ben Nevis when about 14 weeks pregnant and I was absolutely fine. It entirely depends on how your wife feels, if she feels ok then go for it.

[hearthattack]

I'm 39 weeks and staggered half way up the tip of Moel Famau on Saturday. Most annoyed that I couldn't get to the top. It's amazing the things you'll do to bring on labour!

In all seriousness, although moving at all is quite hard work as I'm so hefty, I was way more up for it this weekend than I would have been 8 months ago. I felt grotty and washed out for weeks. Everyone is different though. As long as she's under no pressure to prove anything to herself or anyone else (said as one who is in constant competition with self and previous achievements!).

[sausagepoo]

I climbed Ben Nevis when 16 weeks pregnant and it was fine. If she's feeling good, then I can't see any reason why not.

[ThatsDissapointing]

Another viewpoint..
I've always loved my sport and carried on doing everything with my first pregnancy including high impact classes. Nothing OTT but something most days. I then miscarried at 12 weeks although the pregnancy had probably failed (is that the right word) beforehand. It didn't bother me too much as I know it's so very 'normal' to miscarry however some of the women where I worked said maybe it was because of the sports. . I thought it was a stupid thing to say or think .
What I'm trying to say is if you did your walk and your DW miscarried at a later date would you have regrets? IYSWIM
I'm a pragmatic person and not someone who overthinks things and I didn't regret my level of sports but I suspect others might have.
Interestingly I did tone things down a bit for my subsequent pregnancies even though I don't think my sports caused the first miscariege - it's not quite logical is it.
Sorry if this is a bit garbled

[clarabellski]

Hi OP,

All the advice you're getting here is necessarily anecdotal. The best thing would be to ask your partner how she feels about it (albeit spoiling the surprise element, but I'm sure there's another surprise you could come up with).

FWIW, I went on a multi-day hike in the Dolomites at week 17/18 (which took in equivalent of 3 munros over 4 days). My partner carried the heavier bag and we took it at a more leisurely pace than we would have done before I was pregnant. This was long after the morning sickness had subsided. Mine kicked in about 5 weeks and lasted until about 12 weeks. During those weeks, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus and there was no way you would have dragged me up any hill.

[sambucusnigra]

Wow! thank you so much everyone who replied so quickly to my question. I think the key will be to only attempt as much or as little as she feels up to with gentler options on the table as well.

Thank you once again

[museumum]

Id have loved the weekend. But wanted a shorter/flatter option walk too and chosen on the day.
I skied and biked through pregnancy and needed it for my sanity.

[docmcstuffins1]

I biked and ran until about 17 weeks. The main limiting factor is fatigue, as others have said. I'm sure she'll love it!

[pocketsized]

We went on a walking/climbing holiday to the dolomites qhen I was 8 weeks. Some days I didn't feel up to doing v much so we rested and did very little, other days I felt fab and we did some awesome Via Ferrata. So if you're happy to be flexible with the plans once you're there I'd definitely go for it :)

[Runningupthathill82]

Absolutely yes. I was still competing in fell races during the first trimester. If you're already fit then it's not really a problem for most people.
She's likely to be more tired than usual though, and possibly in need of sugary snacks along the way.