Would you climb a Munro when pregnant?

[sambucusnigra]

Hi,
My wife has just found out she's around 6 weeks pregnant. Brilliant news.

The thing is, next weekend it's her birthday and i'd planned a surprise trip to the Highlands, including an 11mile hike up a Munro (a hill more than 3000' high) as her birthday treat. We are seasoned hill walkers and the trip i've got in mind would usually be no bigger deal for her than eating a bowl of cornflakes. It's not dangerous at this time of year, just strenuous with some steep sections.

I know she'd absolutely love the trip. However, the last thing i want to do is needlessly increase the risk of miscarriage. I also know that she doesn't want to spend the coming months living in a protective cage and is determined to continue with her work etc (she does (often demanding) physical work on a farm).

As i write this i realise that there are hundreds of alternative birthday surprise weekends that needn't give me (or her) a dilemma -- so why proceed with this one?? Nonetheless i would be very interested to hear other people's opinions on what is or isn't wise for a woman in the early stages of preganncy to do.

Thanks everyone

I did 5 Wainwrights (Lake District hills) when I was 25-6 weeks pregnant. Took it a little slower than usual, lots of breaks, plenty of food and water, but definitely do-able and a lot of the aches and pains I'd had from my sedentary job resolved with a week's walking! So long as she's fit already, feeling up for it and not too hindered by morning sickness, should be fine! And if it's not? Maybe you could just go and enjoy some smaller walks and taking in the lovely autumnal sights. Play it by ear. Enjoy the trip!

I walked the Kumano Kodo in Japan at 8 weeks pregnant. It was tough going and I was a lot slower than I normally am, but overall it was fine. But yeah, as others have said, plan some alternative 'easier' route options so she can see how she's feeling on the day - pregnancy symptoms seem to fluctuate, do it's difficult to tell what she'll be up to on any one day.

Have been doing short/day hikes ever since, it's actually gotten easier as the pregnancy has progressed.

Play it by ear and have a plan b on the table.

She may be totally fine and there's no need to wrap her in cotton wool if she is, but just be aware that some women (regardless of fitness) get hit with massive exhaustion and sickness.

I'm a fit person (runner, climber etc) and this pregnancy has floored me. I was puking twelve times a day at four weeks and could barely get up the stairs!

Hopefully you'll have a nice weekend. Pack lots of snacks :)

It would really depend on her. It's not dangerous but she may not feel up to it.
I am 9weeks pregnant now and I spent weeks 5-8 completely floored by exhaustion and sickness. I am still having to have the odd 10min nap to get me through the day.
However with my first pregnancy I was climbing scaffolding, driving cross country to clamber around building sites at 6weeks without a problem.

Alison Hargreavesmanaged theNorth Face of the Eiger when pregnant. Which is actual climbing rather than hill walking. I'm sure your dw will be fine.

Personally i managed Hellvelyn at 8 months pregnant.

As long as you can be flexible to suit what she feels like it should be fine. Maybe my first sign of pregnancy was struggling to do an easy Munro that should have been no problem for me! But a few weeks later I was bag to normal. Have a great time.

Should be fine as long as she is feeling good! I completed an Olympic distance triathlon (1,500m swim/40km cycle/10km run) at 8 weeks with no issues.

Success! Slioch in the NW Highlands conquered, 981m from a start at sea level, my wife thoroughly enjoyed it and took it on at some pace - 7hrs up and down. She said she had a bit of cramp at the end of the day but we were reassured to read somewhere that apparently this is to be expected after a lot of exercise. See some pics of our trip, thanks again everyone who contributed to this thread

I cycled 150km when I was 6 weeks pregnant and was fine. I cycled a lot before but still 150km was more than a normal day. I'm now 8 weeks pregnant and I wouldn't have wanted to do it now.

Ah I see she made it. Well done!

I climbed Scafell Pike at 16 weeks pregnant. We are also seasoned walkers, although I'm not a great hill walker. I was slow, but we did it!

Worst point was the constant needing a wee. The weather was terrible, DP and I still laugh at my 'extreme wee'. I was behind the one big rock for quite a while, the rain was horizontal and the wind nearly blew me over. And then some other walkers came past

But yes to the holiday

Should have RTFT - sorry

and now you all know about the worst wee I've ever taken