Cycling post 33 weeks - safe?

[sh77]

I am 33 weeks and am compiling my to do list for maternity leave, which starts on Friday. I really want to hire a Boris bike and cycle around Hyde Park. I haven't cycled once in this pregnancy but have done lots of walking and so am reasonably fit.

Is it a good idea or not?

I wouldn't say that there would be anything inherently unsafe about it, particularly if you're not going to be on the road and I'm assuming you're planning a reasonably gentle pace rather than trying to get round the park as fast as possible. I would say that you may well find it's not a particularly comfortable experience. I cycled every day pre-pregnancy and for various, mostly weather related, reasons stopped at around 16 weeks or so. I do go out on my bike at weekends and find that my bum is no longer quite as resillient when it comes to getting saddle sore and as I'm carrying quite low my bump gets in the way a bit and my trousers tend to dig in a bit.

Probably no harm giving it a try, if you find it intolerable you can always get off and wheel the bike back to where you got it from.

Hi Sh77 i cycled everyday up to about 30 weeks, when I just felt it wasn't safe for me..!I live in London and cycling isn't for the faint hearted, even round Hyde Park...!

Also you can't really cycle 'across' Hyde Park, you have to use the cycle routes around this park..which are alongside the road which also have cars driving on them....!

"Look at www.royalparks.org.uk/about/cycle_hire_scheme.cfm"

But it's up to you...might be worth checking your insurance and what the policy of London Cycle Hire Scheme is...

Good advice. Thank you both! I have a very low bump also. Well, it's free for the 1st 30 mins, enough time for a gentle cycle and to figure out whether a good idea or not.

I cycled up until about 30 weeks I think - was a bit awkward with the bump in the way after that! My mum swears she cycled up until the day she went into labour though.

I cycled to the day I went into labour with dd3 on the back - but I didn't half annoy my midwife because I had really high bood pressure

I cycled all the way to the end of 4 full term pregnancies. Your 30 min. plan sounds good, see how you feel.
(Heck, I even fell off the bike in 2 pregnancies, with no harm done).