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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:

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 17/09/2017 08:57

My doctor told me cycling is fine for a regular cyclist. He said if you don't fall off anyway you won't fall off because pregnant. I did stop in later stages as started to feel a bit uncomfortable with bigger bump but no need to give up at your stage :)

dannydyerismydad · 17/09/2017 08:59

My midwife told me that the guidance was not to take up new strenuous sports when pregnant, but providing the pregnancy was low risk continuing to cycle or horse ride was ok.

I stopped hacking and stuck to schooling on a very safe mount and only stopped at about 22-24 weeks when dismounting became tricky.

Cyclingforcake · 17/09/2017 09:00

I ran until about 10 weeks when the fatigue got me and the midwife told me there was no way I was running the London marathon in 4weeks time, cycled my road bike until 24 weeks (I fell off at very low speed because my centre of gravity and DH said no more), road my town bike until 32 weeks and swam until the end. All of that was with the full support and encouragement of doctors and midwives. I've never heard of anyone being told to stop (sensible) cycling in the early stages. Can't comment on horse riding but one of my colleagues continued until quite late in her pregnancy very happily.

danTDM · 17/09/2017 09:00

Horseriding no.

I got a haematoma from this and then nearly had a miscarriage. Only bed rest for 6 weeks saved me and then it was touch and go.
I lost a lot of blood.

Up to you of course, but you are told this for a damn good reason, I am living proof!

Congratulations The sacrifices start now!

cherrytree63 · 17/09/2017 09:08

With my first pregnancy I rode up until 8 months. It was a very easy pregnancy, no morning sickness, fit as a fiddle!
I was competing until 5 months.
I was still running a livery yard, spent the early hours of my labour mucking out with my husband's help.
However, although I went into labour very fit, the midwife said it contributed to my long exhausting labour as my ligaments and muscles were too strong to soften as they should do.
My 2nd pregnancy was much different, I conceived twins but one was ectopic, so had emergency surgery at 7 weeks when it burst.
So I had a lot of pain as my growing tummy was stretching my scar. I had a lot of morning sickness and was tired from running around after my 2yo DS. By the time I'd recovered from the surgery enough to ride I'd lost my mojo, and just pottered about on my horse until.about 16 weeks.
I asked the Obs consultant I saw following my surgery about riding again, his advice was if it's something you're used to, carry on, but if it hurts, stop!

Pantah630 · 17/09/2017 09:09

When I asked my GP he told me the only thing I shouldn't do is scuba diving and water skiing, due to the pressure of water being forced up inside. He said if a baby is viable they're very tenacious so a fall shouldn't harm them unless there was already an underlying problem. I embraced what he said and rode my motorbike up till 8 months, after that it became physically uncomfortable, that included going off road riding. I can't see a problem cycling or horse riding, unless you have an easily spooked horse who regularly chucks you off.

cheminotte · 17/09/2017 09:11

I carried on cycling until I got a chest infection at 7 months with DC2. I took dc1 to nursery on the bike.

cherrytree63 · 17/09/2017 09:11

Ps my widwife in my first labour told me Winston Churchill's mum was out hunting when she went into labour! Calmy handed her horse to her groom, went indoors and gave birth!

museumum · 17/09/2017 09:14

I cycled up to 38.5 weeks. I did start choosing off-road paths and other slower routes as traffic is the biggest danger. My mw was very happy with this - I arrived at appointments with my helmet.

SheepyFun · 17/09/2017 09:16

I cycle a fair bit, in an area where that's not uncommon. I turned up to appointments with my cycle helmet, and my physiotherapist actually told me to keep cycling for as long as it was comfortable. I cycled 50 miles a week until the day before I was admitted (at 37+5). Like others, I found it more comfortable than walking. Go for it!

AtHomeDadGlos · 17/09/2017 09:16

Well, seeing as the expert advice is to not do it, I think you've done exactly the right thing coming onto an anonymous chat forum to canvass anecdotal opinion from entire strangers.

IncognitoBurrito · 17/09/2017 09:17

Make sure you're brakes are on top form if you're cycling. I cycled with one broken brake when I was pregnant, because I'm an idiot, the other brake broke and I flew across the road into a lamppost. Fortunately all was well (30 weeks) but I couldn't walk to work afterwards because of hip pain and had to give up my job earlier than planned. But that's a cautionary tale of foolishness on my part, if your bike is well tuned up you should be fine. I loved cycling when pregnant up until that point.

choochooo · 17/09/2017 09:17

If you fall from a horse it could be very serious for your pregnancy. Horses are unpredictable and never '100% bombproof' as people like to say. Is it worth it? I stopped as soon as I found out. Cycling is fine as long as you're careful.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2017 09:17

and swam until the end

Swimming (and aquanatal) are obviously great when pregnant. Walking is good too, you can keep pretty fit with that rather than running if you do it fast and/or with hills (nordic style with poles might be worth considering to get upper body exercise plus extra stability- I've not tried it myself, just looks like it could be good). The only limit on walking is planning a route with loos as your bladder capacities shrinks!

IncognitoBurrito · 17/09/2017 09:18

Bloomin' autocorrect you're. I do know the difference!

MuncheysMummy · 17/09/2017 09:28

Ok I'm going to share my honest experience not to be alarmist just as a precautionary tale. I own my own horse had him for 14 years since a youngster I backed him myself and have ridden him daily since my teens and have a total bind with him and trust I know him inside out so when was pregnant despite being told by my doctor to stop riding until I was 16 weeks as a minimum and even then to be very careful I thought it was just ncase I fell off so continued as I felt I was as safe as could be from that. It's not just the falling off risk it's to do with placenta attachment I think? I do remember one day when cantering (very sedately in a collected canter on a 15m circle,we compete medium level dressage) I felt a weird dropping sensation in my tummy so stopped immediately and just walked after that for the rest of the session. The next morning I had a slight bleed and a scan confirmed there was no heartbeat 2 days later...I was 13 weeks by that point. It's probable that riding had no impact whatsoever and it just wasn't meant to be at that time however it doesn't stop the guilt I felt and still feel. We now have a 15 month old DS and I stopped riding immediately I knew I was pregnant,I'd say leave it until much further along and only then if your riding a sane horse you know inside out even as someone very experienced who teaches sometimes I wouldn't ride a horse not my own when pregnant.

shakingmyhead1 · 17/09/2017 09:36

Zara Phillips rode till she was quite far along, and if, apart from the fall danger, it was really ill advised the Queens grand-daughter would have been forbidden to ride!

Birdsgottafly · 17/09/2017 09:41

If you only "dabble in horse riding", why is there a need for you to do it whilst early or late pregnancy?

ZP is an accomplished Horse Woman, I doubt she gets thrown generally. She knows the horses that she rides, well. Which makes a difference. Some Horses pick up on pregnancy. My youngest DD rides regularly and it becomes a relationship with the Horses. ZP also miscarried her second, if you want to get antidotal.

When Women didn't want to be pregnant, they drank gin and went for a hard hack, or hill walked.

Off road gentle cycling is fine, but be prepared for possible changes to your hips, or shooting pains in your thigh muscles, which can suddenly come on. So you don't end up stuck somewhere.

Birdsgottafly · 17/09/2017 09:43

"Zara Phillips rode till she was quite far along, "

But not at the very start, which is why rumours were flying around.

HailLapin · 17/09/2017 09:47

I rode my bike until about 12 weeks , I also started to lose my balance around this time so started to felt unsafe on my commute.

allegretto · 17/09/2017 09:50

I fell after skiing in early pregnancy and it caused a lot of problems (for me) as I needed an operation and lots of xrays. I would avoid it!

Llanali · 17/09/2017 09:53

I rode throughout, and cycled, and ran. If you are used to it, that's not the same as starting a fresh. It's really up to you and baby's father.

Skisunsnow · 17/09/2017 10:00

As long as you feel comfortable doing these things are aren't taking extra risks, like show jumping, or road racing then I can't see a problem. You'll always be advised not to by professionals as they wouldn't want you to have an accident and say, "well no in told me I shouldn't".
I went skiing in my first trimester first pregnancy, water skied in second trimester, and I'm still cycling (ok just small rides to get fresh air and a bit of exercise) this time, 3rd baby 34 weeks.

TableMirror · 17/09/2017 10:11

I rode up until 29 weeks but on my own horse and just plodding. I stopped when I was no longer safely able to get off. I wouldn't deal with a horse that wasn't mine whilst pregnant.

MW and consultant have been fine with it as they understand I'm a very cautious rider and gentle exercise is good.

Now I've stopped riding I'll continue to train mine from the ground.

Runssometimes · 17/09/2017 11:09

I continued to cycle and in fact did to all my maternity appointments until around 8 months when my belly started to get in the way. And my balance was a bit off so I stopped. And it was then I piled on all the weight and fluid. But none of the medical staff - and I had many due to an underlying health condition - ever suggested I stop cycling. See how you go. If you are an experienced cyclist and you aren't over exerting and your balance is good, then go for it. Maybe lay off any strenuous MTB trails with jumps etc.

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