Bumpy road cycling - am I being mad?

[gb000]

Ladies, talk me down off the ledge...I'm 13+4 and today cycled for about an hour to and from an appointment in London. The roads aren't terrible obviously but there's some quite bumpy bits where the roads aren't well maintained. It felt uncomfortable in parts and I'm not a very confident cyclist so couldn't avoid them easily.

I'm now totally paranoid that the bumping is bad for the baby. Especially now I've got home and feel a bit crampy.

Am I being insane!?

[lockdownpregnancy]

You shouldn't be cycling when you're pregnant. I've been told it's a big no no! Spinning is fine but not actual cycling outside.
I think it's because if you fall off you could cause you and your baby serious harm!
I don't think the cycling will have done you any damage but I'd consider another form of transport going forward.
If you're in serious pain though I'd speak with your MW or maternity unit

[MinesALatte]

Ive read the opposite about cycling, if you’re a regular cycler then it’s fine to continue - however, cycling around London does sound a bit scary to me!
When we were trying to conceive I went on a few bumpy mountain bike rides and one day I cycled off a ledge that didn’t look too high but it was massive and gave me such a jolt - I conceived that month! Couldn’t believe it! I’m certainly no expert (only 7-8 weeks) but I would say the baby is well protected ☺️

[T0rt0ise]

Absolutely fine to continue. I did mountain biking with zero issues. The only sports the NHS suggest not doing are contact sports and scuba diving. There is obviously a risk in falling off at speed but the bumping from cycling won't do any harm (they are very well protected in there!)

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pregnancy-exercise/

[bogoblin]

As a regular cyclist I cycled all the way through my first trimester before I stopped to WFH and everything is fine! I went over cobbles and down bumps and kerbs and everything.

Advice is generally that if you do an activity you are OK to continue doing it in pregnancy for as long as you feel comfortable or safe. Baby is well protected in the womb.

Feeling crampy could just be that you've overdone it. Make sure you rest and drink plenty but if it gets really bad or persists and you feel something isn't right, speak to your midwife or early pregnancy unit.

[gb000]

Thanks all! That makes me feel better.

@lockdownpregnancy totally understand the point about falling, but I wasn't so much worried about falling off (and I didn't) - more the jolting around.

There's surprisingly little information about it out there but I suppose if an hour of London road cycling could cause harm there'd probably be more warnings about it online!

[Cornishmumofone]

I cycled throughout my pregnancy. I stopped regularly riding my road bike with cleats, but cycled to work every day until 38 weeks and collected a new cyclocross bike on my due date. I tried it out the next day when there was no sign of baby.

The biggest risk is from having an accident. I chose not to race or to ride in groups where I didn't trust the other riders.

[BikeRunSki]

OP, your baby is safely cocooned still and your body is very shock absorbent. I was a regular cyclist throughout both pg (once the hyperemisis had subsided) and was mountain biking on actual mountains at 28 weeks. I appreciate that that is probably not to be recommended.

[welshladywhois40]

I'm still cycling at 10 weeks but plan to stop once it's uncomfortable or I feel unsteady. I will really miss it as it's one of the few forms of exercise left during lockdown.

Now spinning - I don't think that is suitable during during pregnancy - so you don't want to overheat during pregnancy and I have never left a spin class where I am not dripping or feel pushed to my limits so I normally stop spinning - not that we can spin at the moment!

[gb000]

Thank you 🤗

@Cornishmumofone @BikeRunSki you ladies sound badass! Let's hope I am still that active later on!