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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to cycle or ride a horse in early pregnancy?

51 replies

Bunnyfluffy · 17/09/2017 08:32

Found out I'm pregnant this week.
Only 4 weeks pregnant so very early days.

Have registered with the doctor and been given some leaflets one of which says "don't take part in horse riding ..and ..cycling, because there is a risk of falling".

I'm fit and sporty and my main sport is cycling plus I dabble in horse riding. Do I literally need to give both up now?!

I cycle to work as well as for pleasure.

I want to keep fit and healthy in pregnancy and cycling is my main way of keeping fit. I can't run due to hip and knee problems so can't replace cycling with running.

Obviously I'm not going to be galloping round on horses once I've got a bump, but in the early stages are gentle cycling and horse riding ok?

OP posts:

Rheged · 17/09/2017 08:35

I see no need to stop physical activity at such an early stage. The baby is very well protected within your body. I went skiing at 9 weeks and was slightly concerned about the risk if I were to take a hard fall but my GP said I'd have to do something like break my pelvis for there to be a risk to the baby.

I think Zara Phillips continued to ride until over 20 weeks.

Sayyouwill · 17/09/2017 08:37

I think it depends on you personally. If you cycle and ride before pregnancy, there is a lower risk as you probably won't crash/fall whereas an inexperienced cyclist or rider may be more likely.

Ijustwantaquietlife · 17/09/2017 08:37

Is it worth the risk?

Your baby so it's your call.

Only on mn do people say to go against medical advice

Pregosaurus · 17/09/2017 08:39

I ski'd at 16 weeks with my first and rode until 20 weeks with my second, cycled all the way through both. I guess work out your appetite for the risk - I think early on it might be riskier because the fall could cause you to miscarry? I'm not a demon skier tho and was a cautious pregnant rider - no young or green horses. Totally up to you.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 17/09/2017 08:40

I was told with cycling that it is fine as long as you keep doing it very regularly so are able to adjust to your changing shape. (Ie don't get on for the first time in a year at 7 months because you all fall off!)

I cycled to 6 months with my first (and only stopped then because of snow) and over 7 with my second. Most people seemed to stop between 4 and 5. (I live in a cycling city.) I do know someone who was out for a ride the day before their (planned) c-section.

Be prepared for comments at work though once you start to show.

ILoveMillhousesDad · 17/09/2017 08:40

Why would you, if doctors orders are don't do 'x'?

Its like saying well I drink wine every day, but I'm pregnant now and doctors advice is to steer clear of alcohol, but should I really if I do it everyday?

KarateKitten · 17/09/2017 08:40

Cycling I would do. Horse riding no. You are depending on the horse never spooking, being unwell, having a sore foot or pain in saddle area causing them to buck. So especially if you only dabble in horse riding and are not a serious pro on the same, well exercised and well known horse almost daily then I think you would be irresponsible to ride. Even the best riders on the most bomb proof horses get thrown off.

GeraldineT · 17/09/2017 08:41

I continued cycling to work every day until I went on maternity leave. So up until about 5 weeks before he was born. No problems. Granted I never got as large as many people so my balance wasn't unduly affected but reallt cant see cycling when pregnant as being a problem.

LEMtheoriginal · 17/09/2017 08:42

I could tell you a farcical story about my horse riding in early pregnancy. It could have very easily become a tragic story though. Involving a horse deciding to bolt onto the main road. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time and fortunately I didn't fall but that was by luck more than anything. I've taken many a tumble from horses and If I'd known I simply wouldn't take the risk.

Cycling in less clear on. At first I'd say the risks were minimal but as your bump grows it may affect your balance.

Congratulations xx

ADayGivingMeHope · 17/09/2017 08:42

I'd give up the horse riding, horses can do unexpected things and a fall could be quite bad but the cycling you are in control and as long as you start to take it steady then I don't see a major problem!
Your body, your baby, your decision.

Crumbs1 · 17/09/2017 08:43

No great risk. Of course you can. Exercise is good. Riding is particularly good for abdominal muscles. Babies are quite tenacious and tend to hang on in there despite all manner of activities. Those that are going to miscarry rarely do so because of anything the mother has done.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 17/09/2017 08:43

Only on mn do people say to go against medical advice confused

Medical advice varies though. What I said above was what I was told by the midwife (ie no more risky to regular cyclists than other "normal living" activities.)

ProseccoPoppy · 17/09/2017 08:43

I'd booked a riding refresher course when I found out I was expecting DD1. I was advised not to do that by my (generally very sensible) midwife on the basis that if I was so out of practice I needed a refresher I was at a higher risk of falling. My (experienced rider) NCT friend rode regularly until about 5 months. She discussed it with both her midwife and her ob-gyn consultant dad. The consensus was that, for her, that was low risk. She did stop jumping and hunting though.

Spudlet · 17/09/2017 08:44

My gp told me to stop everything - my midwife was extremely unimpressed when I finally got to see her and said I would have been fine to carry on. I had moved practices in the interim, which is good because she wanted the doctor's name, I think she was ready to go and have a row about it! So medical advice is not always that clear cut.

Personally I stopped riding because I wasn't riding my own horse, I was having lessons. I am quite competent but I was riding unknown horses at the end of the day, and I didn't want to put any sort of responsibility onto my lovely instructor. I carried on cycling until the traffic started to make me feel unsafe. Trouble was I'd stopped in early pregnancy due to my gps advice, so by the time I started again I felt all wobbly with my bump...

MilfordFound · 17/09/2017 08:44

It's not just about risk to the baby. Your body will undergo changes, relaxin takes effect etc. You may be more likely to injure yourself or be off balance.
That said, can't see much harm in cycling!
Congratulations on your pregnancy

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2017 08:45

And horses are a lot further to fall than a bike.

Cycling - well, surely it depends what sort. Mountain biking or fast road cycling or in slippery conditions no. Moderate speed, careful cycling on decent surfaces - the benefit of activity would probably outweigh the small risk.

scaevola · 17/09/2017 08:45

Whilst the pregnancy is well contained in the bowl of the pelvis (ie under about 12 weeks, you'll get away with it. Because it's really unlikely that your ligaments will have softened or your centre of gravity changed by that point.

Only continue vigorous sports to which you are already well-accustomed, and consider notching down the intensity a little.

The consequences of falling are of course potentially more severe, but only really if you land on something which puts serious trauma right into the pelvic bowl. So I'd be tending to be more wary of cycling and there are more metal pokey bits around.

AcornToOak · 17/09/2017 08:47

I think it depends on a lot of things tbh, everyone I know that has horses has ridden up until they feel uncomfortable getting on/off or if there has been concern with the pregnancy, its not something I would do as im renowned for falling off most unexpectedly, but the friends that do just take it easy on very sensible sane horses, I personally would be more worried about the other road uses if i was bike riding, it would be sods law for something to happen in my world

ememem84 · 17/09/2017 08:47

I rode horses up until about 30 weeks. My doctor said no horse riding no gym no skiing no cycling. Because I might bruise my vag.

The midwife who I saw at my booking appointment said if it's something my body's used to doing carry on until I felt I needed to stop. With the horse riding I spoke to my instructor who was fine with me continuing but said I'd absolutely have to stop at 30 weeks or earlier (depending on when I felt uncomfortable). She rode until the week before having each of her 3 kids but had also ridden since she was about 2.

My advice would be - weigh up the risks for you. Minimise risk as much as possible -eg I only jumped if it was a one on one lesson - less chaotic that way and listen to your body.

Exercise during pregnancy is great.

Obviously some things get more difficult. But take it easy.

For me I think mentally it would have been worse to stop everything. I'm 38 weeks now and have just recently had to slow everything right down. No more gym. No more riding as bump got in the way. No spinning. Still trying a bit of yoga and Pilates but that's becoming more difficult.

Papafran · 17/09/2017 08:49

Its like saying well I drink wine every day, but I'm pregnant now and doctors advice is to steer clear of alcohol, but should I really if I do it everyday?

It's not really like that though. Excessive alcohol has been proven to be harmful. Cycling is not harmful, it's just that there might be risks if the OP were to fall off her bike. But equally, she could trip and fall down the stairs or trip or fall while out for a walk or have an accident while driving.

goodnessidontknow · 17/09/2017 08:49

Congratulations!
I think it all comes down to your (and your DPs) risk attitude. Personally I wouldn't stop cycling until my balance was affected as long as it wasn't on risky roads, fast off road or single speed as I feel the risk is fairly low.
Horse riding is another matter. I know many women who have happily ridden until they were too big to get on. A couple have had crashing falls and been absolutely fine but I also know 2 who have had a fall and then miscarried.
Apparently it is less of a risk in very early pregnancy while the baby is still protected by your pelvis but personally I've had and seen too many silly falls to risk it.

AdorableMisfit · 17/09/2017 08:50

I know nothing about horse riding, but I commute to work by bike. My midwife said it's fine to carry on. I'm 22 weeks now and thinking I might not keep it up too much longer because unfortunately our local council don't see maintaining cycle paths as important and slippery wet leaves on the path will start to become a problem soon. When I was pregnant with my daughter, who was born in the summer, I carrier on cycling until 37 weeks, but I had a bike that allowed me to sit very upright so the bump didn't get in the way. Couldn't have done it on a mountain bike!

neddle · 17/09/2017 08:50

With my fourth, I cycled daily until the day I had him at 42 weeks. I was only doing the school run twice a day and up to 37 weeks I was also pulling a trailer with my 3yo in it.
I had been cycling seriously for 2 years before so I was used to it and it was actually easier for me than walking as it took the pressure off my feet and legs.

peachgreen · 17/09/2017 08:55

Goodness, by the time I was 6 weeks I was so nauseous that it was hard enough to drag myself off the sofa for a walk, let alone do anything as vigorous as cycling...!

DartmoorDoughnut · 17/09/2017 08:55

Mary King rode at badminton whilst pregnant, fairly sure Zara competed whilst pregnant too and no doubt a lot more women too!

I wouldn't take up a new sport but if it's part of your routine I'd continue. Maybe discuss with your midwife or GP for reassurance?

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