Comments at Christmas cause I choose to carry on riding whilst pregnant

[Pladii]

In my early 20s I found horse riding. The routine, being out in nature, forming a bond with animals does my mental health absolute wonders.

I am newly pregnant. Just beginning to show and have decided I will continue riding my boy who is an absolute gentleman. We adore one another and I trust him.

We went to stay with my husband’s side for Christmas. And it got brought up over the actual main meal! I was mortified! Granny begged me not to. And my sister in law said “it’s just not worth the risk”. She doesn’t understand why I’m chancing it. MIL kept quiet (not like her).

I am only accepting a level of risk that I am comfortable with. I wouldn’t dare a ride a horse I didn’t know.

It’s my body. I think it’s a bit rubbish for my decision to be questioned so publicly. Made me feel like I am doing something wrong.

Dh and I are doctors. I’ve made a decision as an adult woman. That should be it.

Stress is much more likely to cause issues with your baby and no one is going to suggest you give up work. I am sure you are taking whatever precautions you feel are needed. I think it’s just another internalised misogyny thing- ignore,ignore,ignore.

I rode up to 6 months until the pommel got in the way. I was back in the saddle 2 weeks after, stitches included 🏇

@justpassmethemouse

being able to dye hair is pretty essential tbh.
also most offices are not gonna let pregnant women work from home for the duration of their pregnancy in case they catch flu. They would most likely be told to get a flu jab

Well Maslow must have forgotten that one then 🤣

That’s why I said that none were essential except the office.

Just about every horsey person I know continued to ride while pregnant. Most scaled back a bit ie stopped jumping although look at Ros Canter - out doing BE at 4* still. I wasn’t really riding during my pregnancies but I did work doing carriage driving which tbh is probably just as risky and a lot more active and bumpy. A friend of mine was still taking her trusty point to pointer up the gallops when she was over due. I think horsey folk are just built a bit different 😅

It’s your choice, I personally wouldn’t as I’ve been thrown off a horse at high speed when it was spooked by a dog. Every one I know who rides has been thrown off multiple times, some seriously injured, so I just wouldn’t take the risk.

@justpassmethemouse

well it’s obviously not akin to food and water and shelter, but if a woman can’t colour their hair for months on end and gets dark roots, or greys coming through or whatever than that is gonna pretty hard for her isn’t?
plus, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that dying hair in pregnancy causes harm so why deny oneself??

I rode 2 of mine all the way through my first pregnancy right up until dc was born, I had ridden the day before. My second pregnancy was higher risk so I didnt ride at all.

Enjoy it, be careful and listen to your body.

Its your choice, but you'd be devastated if something happened. Even if it was independant of the riding; you'd probably always wonder if that was a contributing factor.

I rode my horse until my bump was too big for me to get off him!

Being fat and doing nothing is far riskier than riding.
Probably driving is more risky than riding a sound horse in low risk environments.

No point in the post as you want to carry on riding.

God I forgot about the judgey pregnancy police
I rode until 9 weeks with my first as I didn’t have my own then and it was riding school horses, I opted out of a jumping lesson and then didn’t go back. I did cycle until about 22 weeks though. Didn’t ride with DD2 due to SPD (ouch)
I would totally ride my lad now until I couldn’t!

It’s probably far less risk than letting your children ride. And we don’t stop them but it could result in a fatality. Just like something could happen when you’re pregnant and riding. Or you could be involved in a car accident or fall down the stairs.

It’s interesting that people say “your body, your choice”. What about the unborn child? What might the outcome be for the unborn child? Mary King rode whilst pregnant too. Others don’t.

I personally wouldn’t do it and I made sure I gave up smoking and drinking etc as I felt it just wasn’t worth the risk.

I do think when you get pregnant/become a parent, you do need to do things that means not always putting yourself first.

For me, it’s not the risk of miscarriage it’s the risk of them being born with serious difficulties which would not only impact my life but also theirs.

If you’re happy to take the risk of miscarriages/serious complications then it’s completely your choice.
Just like those who continue to spoke, drink, go mountain climbing etc.

How on earth might you think rising caused something unconnected. Don’t forget OP is a Dr so probably unlikely to think something so irrational

As a doctor and a horse rider, which none of your critics are, you must have thought through potential risks and come to your decision in which case I'd just head people off at the pass and say "I'll be stopping shortly anyway" then carry on doing what I want anyway. Your body, your business.

I had my old girl when pregnant, my midwife was most disapproving and my mum went down the panic route first time round. In her case I think it is because she blames herself for a late miscarriage in her last pregnancy, and she had been jumping bareback early on (obviously no link, but she clearly still holds a lot of trauma). My old mare was pretty much retired anyway, and I was terribly ill for the first few months, but I found the yardwork helped brilliantly with keeping up my strength. I did have a massive urge to ride at 32 weeks, had a lovely potter once around the school, then my hips seemed to dislocate and my darling pony eased me back to the mounting block as I couldn't dismount. Tbh the worse time was Bonfire Night when I nearly got crushed in the stable, but that was my own fault.

I hate when people try to dictate the lives of pregnant women, as if they have no agency. I think your DH need to have words with your in laws, before they try to force more of their opinions on you and your baby.

Entirely up to you. Personally I chose not to ride during my pregnancy, but I only have the roads to hack on (although quiet country lanes) I trust my horse 100% but wouldn’t risk it

Carry on Op, and have a lovely time doing it. You'll work out when your core muscles can't correct well anymore and that'll be the time to dismount and stick to long-lining for a bit :) Enjoy your pregnancy and horse!

I’m not really sure why you are posting on here because you aren’t asking if you are BU, as you’ve made your own risk assessment and are clearly comfortable with the decision you’ve made.

Pretty much everything comes with an element of risk to it. You’re happy to ride your horse (I was happy to ride mine as well, but my pelvic pain and instability when dismounting ultimately stopped me) but others won’t be to ride theirs. It’s a judgement call we made as individuals and there are an awful lot of them as parents and most of them are things others have their own views on.

I rode until about 30 weeks. I owned 2 horses at the time, only one of them I trusted enough to ride while pregnant. He was bomb proof. I only rode trails not roads and I always rode with a friend. It kept me healthy mentally. RIP Champ.. I still love you

I walked for miles and took my Labrador, I’d lift him in to the car on my way home, people told me not to but I ignored them until month 9 when I couldn’t do it anymore. I was pushing 40, first pregnancy.
If you are used if it and know the risks as a doctor then carry on if you are comfortable.

I rode until the day I went into hospital. I was fine with it, my partner was fine with it and my midwife was also more than happy with it.
For those of you saying that the risk isnt worth it, every time you walk down stairs or get in a car or walk across the street, you face risks, but you continue to do those.