still to be cycling at 7 months?

[JumpJockey]

With dd1 I cycled to and from work up to the end of work, left at 38 weeks, she arrived a week later. Bump was quite discreet so nobody commented much.

This time round everyone keeps saying "Oh you're not still cycling are you? Are you sure that's wise?" Well given that my options for getting in and home are a) a 20 minute cycle in followed by 30 min cycle home, picking up DD1 from nursery on the way, or b) a 45 minute walk, bringing buggy to work, followed by 1 hour (or more) walk home with DD in my currently waddly state, or c) £25 a day on taxis, yes I think I am still cycling.

Is this totally unreasonable? I've got lights, helmet, luminous jacket, a route that involves several off road cycle paths, it's not like I'm going down the side of the M11.

YANBU. People say the most stupid bloody things when you're pregnant. I think it's a way of making conversation.

YANBU. Where I live cycling is the norm, I cycled up to the day I gave birth (with a toddler on the bike too). Most women do here, if fact you'd be more likely to get comments for not doing it, walking is much more of a strain on the body.

If you haven't found a solution for when baby arrives have a look at a company called zero emissions in covent garden. The bikes are pricey but fab!

I cycled right up until the day before I gave birth without any problems. If anything it was easier than walking for the last few weeks, my legs weren't bearing the weight and my bike (old fashioned Dutch bike) forced my back into a nice straight position.

I'm in Holland - you see heavily pregnant women all the time on bikes. As for baby - there are clamp thingies you can get here to attach a MaxiCosi on the carrier, and from 6ish months there are seats that go on the handlebars. We even have clamps to carry a buggy, it's not uncommon to see a woman with a baby on the front, toddler on the back, shopping on either side in carriers and the buggy in the clamp. Cycle away!

YANBU.
Though I haven't read entire thread.
Hospital consultants were congratulating me for being so fit and still cycling to ultrasound scans (17 miles each way) at 34 weeks.
My first MW was a keen cyclist herself and still cycling up to 40 weeks :).
Please don't let the ignorant get you down.

My friend was given the "change in centre of gravity" chat by her doc and advised to give up at 7months

I cycled until birth too. 16 mile round trip to work. I don't drive, wouldn't get out otherwise.

I also cycled till 42 weeks with all 4 (although the midwife hated me because with the last 1 I was on medication for my blood pressure)

you should have seen some of the looks I got at the climbing wall in my last month

YANBU though I'm jealous of some of these stories, I managed to 8 months cycling then just couldn't fit in it. It was hilly where I lived and got depressed when I realised a bus ride was quicker than me.

i also cycled right up to the end :)

Thanks all for your positive stories!

jollyma, do you have a website for the people in Covent Garden? Google turns up lots of stories about buses... We have this shop nearby which is brilliant and I currently ride a motherbike with DD on the front, but since she's about to outgrow the seat (boo, hoped it would have at least another 6 months but she's got really long legs) and I wouldn't be able to put #2 in there for a good 8 months or so, we're pondering asking for part exchange on a bakfiets...

I cycled up to 39+ weeks. You're fine - keep going

I've stopped cycling to work but that's because of the ice and I promised not to cycle or run on ice this year (My only route to work is not gritted ever and I have a history of accidents). If it wasn't winter and frosty in the mornings I'd still be cycling.

I really want to see a picture of the dutch cycling mums, that sounds impressive

Cycling is nice and supportive to the pelvis too - found it much, much more comfortable than walking! The whole ' you might fall off' arguement is a bollocks guilt trip imo. You might fall down the stairs but nobody suggests pregnant women should only live in bungalows do they? You might get knocked over by a car whilst walking or fall down the steps of a bus or trip on the Tube escalator too. Every activity has a risk and the risk attached to competent and experienced cyclists continuing to do so in pregnancy - is really very small.

I'm bloody that you can cycle while pg! Hideous SPD put paid to that for me .

But YANBU - I fell out of the front door when I was 6 mths pg , landing on my bump, should I have stayed indoors instead?!

The clamp for the MaxiCosi sounds fab btw!

I cycled until about 40 weeks - it was the only transport I had to get to ante natal classes, MW appointments etc. - I never felt unsafe, or unbalanced. As long as you are not attempting this I think you will be fine

I think its amazing and you should be real proud of yourself.

Good luck with the new baby when it arrives.

So glad to hear so many good responses to this question! I dreaded what people would say but people sound really reasonable.

I'm planning to cycle as long as I can, though I'm anticipating needing to move to my MTB (more upright) from the race bike eventually just for comfort reasons.

As for Dutch women on bikes, I always thought when I lived there that despite being a very competent racing cyclist I would be a failure as a Dutch mother as I couldn't see how I could ride with 3 kids loaded up, 2 bags of groceries dangling from the bars, and a bunch of flowers under my arm!

Some pics:
bit.ly/gqZmgA
bit.ly/ebiWzj
bit.ly/g8Irs4

bit.ly/gqZmgA
bit.ly/ebiWzj
bit.ly/g8Irs4

Better links!

Those bike seats are fab, especially the buggy clamp, we have such poorer more expensive solutions here

That looks far safer than a pull along trailer that can be pushed like a buggy

YANBU. I cycled every day of my pregnancy, and even in the early stages of labour, and it was fine.

I actually found cycling much more comfortable than walking in the last month too, and probably couldn't have managed the walk to the bus stop.

Admittedly, I do live in Amsterdam where it's considered completely normal and safe because there are lots of cycle lanes and driver awareness, but as long as you feel safe, sod what anyone else says/ thinks.

My mum cycled with me until just before I arrived... actually she only stopped cycling a few months before she died at 83. When she had her hip replaced in her 70s, her only question to the physio was when can I get back on my bike?

So keep on cycling and enjoy every moment... especially when you sail past the queues at the bus stop!

Of course YANBU. The pregnancy police are a nightmare.

I am v jealous, btw. I was out of breath walking up the hill at the end of my last pregnancy.