Hill walking at 6 months pregnant?

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Friends are organising a weekend walking in Lake District when I should be about 29 weeks. I just don't have an idea what I'm likely to be feeling like at this stage. Is there any danger I'll be feeling up to some proper hill walks or am I more likely to be wanting to put my feet up?

If I go I will always have the option of talking it easy if I don't feel up to it, but if the very idea of striding through the hills at this stage in pregnancy is totally laughable there isn't much point in going.

What do people think?

How far along are you at the moment, and what are your fitness levels like? I wouldn't have wanted to do it, but would happily take a book or 3 and wait around in cafés while friends are doing the walking. Also if you suffer from PGP or anything then you wouldn't realistically be able to do the walks.

If you're fit and walk anyway, you should be fine. I have friends hillwalking beyond due date. My hips are a bit gammy now at 32 weeks, so would probably take the cafe option (maybe). As long as you're flexible and happy to relax if needs be, then I'd definitely be going.

I'm stil doing a bit at 34 weeks but have definitely slowed up and after about two hours I'm knackered - used to be able to carry on for hours. I'm also a bit nervous about getting too, too remote so we tend to stick to routes where we're not too far from civilisation throughout. So I'd say don't rule it out, but be prepared to alter what you do. And as others have said, a good book and a hot chocolate in a tearoom isn't bad compensation if you're not up for the actual walks!

I'm only 20 weeks but I did an 11 mile walk last weekend and felt fine physically. My only complaint was how often I had to wee! But if you're not against finding a shrub to duck behind, that's not so much of an issue.

I went on a massive walk near Lulworth Cove at 7 months pregnant. It wasn't a 'hike' but it was a very long walk. I needed to rest quite a lot which was fine because it was just me and DH. I imagine friends would have got rather frustrated with me if we has gone with friends.

I think only you know what you're capable of and how you'll feel. But if you do go, rest frequently and keep very hydrated.

There's normally a reasonably sized group of people who go, which often splits out into serious walkers and less hardcore (some of whom I think would be only too happy to have a good excuse for a 'potter to the pub' kind of a walk).

Unfortunately the plan is to stay somewhere fairly remote (tiny village with nothing but a couple of pubs and a youth hostel) and to get there seems to involve a 7 mile undulating walk from nearest public transport (which we will be relying on). I could take a taxi instead but it sort of defeats the object.

I can always back out later if I am suffering with PGP or something but perhaps the whole idea is to strenuous to contemplate.

If you get PGP the uneven ground and the up and down hill will be HELL!
ONLY sign up if you can opt out later.
TBH it's my idea of hell! I got dragged up Catbells at 7 weeks. I had serious ms and it was the exact same day I had mc a couple of months before. I really didn't want to do it and had 2 panic attacks. It put me off the Lakes for life.

I want to say are you fucking kidding me?!

But I won't.

There's no way on earth I could've done this at that stage. Bad SPG and back pain, though it was manageable if I took things easy.

I have done it at 7 months plus; my only thought would to be very wary if it is at all likely to be muddy. Walking is one thing, falling over when heavily pregnant, especially miles from anywhere, is not clever.

In theory yes, if you are fit and well it's doable.

Personally I would not want to be so far from help at that stage just in case. Also I would avoid really steep ground in case you slip. I guess it's about your attitude to risk. I'm a bit neurotic when pregnant even though I was fit and healthy.

I did do little hills right up to the end - very little hills!

I'm quite active and fit, but was completely rubbish when I was pregnant for some reason.

At 32 weeks I went to Cornwall with some friends, and couldn't even walk up the street. My body just didn't do hills.

(Mind you, ds1 was engaged from 31 weeks and I was waddling with him in my pelvis).

I would - but it depends how far I think. Personally, I'd want to make sure the friends were happy to go a bit slower than normal, were aware I'd probably have to pee behind every other bush, and I'd take plenty of food and water.

Thanks for this thread! I'm going to a remote area for a break and some walking at 24 weeks and I'm hoping that is early enough to be going somewhere remote. Hopefully I just need to keep motivated and keep my fitness up in the meantime!

We went away for the weekend when I was about 26 weeks and even walking on flat ground made the ligaments under the bump really hurt after about half a mile or so - and I was pretty fit. 7 miles at 29 weeks is being extremely optimistic. Just make sure there are plenty of hedges around where you walk

At 35w I can now barely walk down the road, but until pgp set in a few weeks ago I did a lot of walking and cycling. There's no telling really. How hard would it be to back out at last minute?

Very hard to call.

I did a 4 day hike, around 20 miles a day, at 14 weeks. That was fine.

I was doing around 10 miles, with lots of rests, but still proper hills, at 30 weeks. It all slowed down after that, but I could still do a good few miles at my due date. So I'm just saying, not impossible! I think I would need a back up plan to commit to it though. Also I was a proper hiker and used to 25 mile hikes pre pregnancy.

Ps Now I have a toddler and am totally unfit. :)

DH and I went to the Yorkshire dales walking when I was 6 months pregnant. It was a great weekend. I had to stop a few times to catch my breath when going up particularly steep bits, but we weren't in a hurry and I just enjoyed the view for a few minutes. I slept very well as a result of all the fresh air and exercise which was a novelty! I was pretty fit though as I had restless legs whilst pregnant so had to walk 4 miles or so a day on top of an active job to be able to get to sleep at all.

The thing is it's really going to depend on how your body reacts as your pregnancy progresses.
For me, despite walking almost every day for fitness, I've had plenty of days (from about week 25 onwards) where my body just does NOT want to do it, and it gets very uncomfortable and painful on occasion.

When I walk now (36 weeks) I don't go out without a chocolate bar in one pocket and mobile phone in the other. I also don't stray too far from the roads so someone can come and pick me up if my body suddenly wants to stop (yes, this has happened!).

It would be really unpleasant to be stuck miles from anywhere and be forced to walk back when you're exhausted and in pain, and you might not be able to predict whether that's going to happen as you're setting out.

I don't know if you have a larger bump yet, but try a bump support and see if that makes a difference closer to the time.

When not pregnant, I've run a marathon, regularly walk 15 miles a day with a double buggy up steep hills for pleasure, do plenty of more formal hill walking. My in-laws live in Cumbria and we often go visit and hike for miles all day up Scafell Pike, over Catbells etc etc. Love it!

During pregnancy:

At 15 weeks I can barely do 1-2 miles at once. An outing to Keswick involves plotting where the next coffee shop is so I can sit down. Steam railways become appealing because I can sit down.

At 20 weeks walking for pleasure is out.

By the time I hit viability at 24 weeks I'm using a crutch, and mobility scooters in malls.

I'm nearly 32 weeks. It is agony just moving from room to room. It even hurts to sit down now.

My cardio isn't too bad though - I did 50 lengths of the pool last week. It's just my pelvis and lower back is completely screwed, so everything except swimming is completely out. You have to love PGP/SPD.

This is DC4 and it happens with every pregnancy.

Some women can run marathons at this stage. Some are like me or worse. Even a previous pregnancy when you've been fine doesn't mean you'll be fine this time, more is the pity.

Only book it if you're sure you can cancel with an affordable-to-you penalty!

Thanks for all the advice!

It would be a cheap weekend and could get a refund or partial refund on transport and accommodation right up until last minute, and no-one would be depending on me (ie I wouldn't be letting anyone down if I backed out late). So could certainly plan to go then change my mind.

It's more a case of there being no point planning it in first place if the chances of me being able to walk at least 5 or so miles a couple of times during the weekend are pretty slim. Weekends away pre-baby are going to be precious and I'd rather be doing something I could enjoy than be sat on the sidelines.

Fitness wise I could walk up munroes fine when 6 months preg with all of mine (slowly). I found I was hugely uncomfortable and braxton-hicks-y unless I had a completely empty bladder though. Cue lots of ungainly pissing in bushes . Sorry DH.

Hello,
Apologies for posting on an old thread, but this came up quite a few times when I was searching things to do in the Lake District whilst 6 months pregnant (28+6 weeks)!
We spent 5 days last week in and around Ambleside. I spoke to my midwife before going, and her advice was that if I woke up feeling okay, then to go for it, but if I felt at all tired/unwell/run-down to take it easy. This was good advice!
We spent day 1 doing a short but hilly walk up to the waterfalls in Ambleside, this was fine for me and bump, I just had to take a couple of extra breaks.
On day 2 rain was forecast so we decided to have a rest day - we booked into Center Parcs in Penrith for a spa day which was bliss - the hydrotherapy pool was especially good!
Day 3 we decided to go for it and attempt to climb Scafell Pike (with zero training...). We took the easiest route which was from the National Trust Wasdale car park. We took plenty of water and snacks with us, and I made sure me pregnancy notes were in my bag, just in case. It took me 3 hours 45 minutes to make it to the summit in relatively good weather. It would have taken longer if it was wet. I took breaks every half hour or so (whenever I needed one, more frequently towards the end) and took it at my own pace, I didn't try to keep up with my husband, and he was happy to wait. Towards the summit I was getting v. tired and did wonder if I would make it, mostly because the incline increased! We had a 20 minute break for photos and food at the top before heading back down, being careful to follow the same route. I did have one little fall on the way down, my feet slipped from under me and I landed on my back. Fortunately I just had a bit of a bruised bum... In my mind, this would have happened whether I was pregnant or not, and did not cause any harm to the baby in any way. After the fall I did decide to take it slowly, so it took around 3 hours to get down the mountain, but with far fewer breaks. I'm glad I did it, but it was hard work. My advice would be to start early and take your time. Also avoid weekends as apparently it is much busier than mid-week which might make you feel a bit on the way being slower than most.
Day 4 - After a long sleep we checked out of our hotel and decided to go to Windermere. We hired a motor boat for a couple of hours and pootled around on the lake for a couple of hours before heading home which seemed like the perfect end to our holiday.
Hope this helps and if anyone has any questions, I am happy to answer.

I was in Switzerland this weekend visiting friends and did a fair bit of walking mostly on flat plain but also some hills. The hills are a struggle as I got out of breath quite quickly and I'm usually quite fit. I'm 26 weeks now and have to say my ligaments under bump also started aching after awhile. Now I'm back in the city and quite exhausted so I would say see how you feel but I wouldn't push it...