Tell me how dumb I am to consider a 10K walk at 39ws

[southpacificgoat]

Work is doing a 10K fundraising run with option to walk it for the less fit. It's a really good cause and I would love to do it. The thing is that I will be just past 39 weeks (It's in the summer)...

This is baby number two. I was induced last time at 41 weeks and would love to have a natural start to labour this time round. I am planning to walk to work and back when I don't feel comfortable cycling any longer. This is just over 5K one way, so roughly the equivalent distance of the charity run/walk a day. Last time I got to around 37 weeks doing this and then had to stop because my shins started hurting really badly. I also got really heavy legs and water retention in the last couple of weeks of that pregnancy.

I really would love to do it though and think it might be a good way to get things going if nothing has happened by then. Obviously I can still pull out if I am not up to it at the time, but I don't want to let people down by pulling out of something I should not have considered doing in the first place. Also, I am not super fit, just average. Is this madness? Has anyone else done this in a previous pregnancy or is considering doing it this time? How did it go?

I fainted in church while heavily pregnant. I didn’t go back to services while I was pregnant after that because I felt that there was potential for it to happen again and a heavily pregnant woman fainting and getting stuck between the pews was needlessly distressing and disturbing for the rest of the congregation.

That's a bit different, though, isn't it? You didn't stop going to church pre-emptively just in case you fainted, you stopped going after you fainted, although I don't think it would have been unreasonable to keep going but avoid standing for long periods/singing so loudly/whatever it was that caused you to faint.

I don't think OP should do this walk unless she is routinely clocking up similar distances in the run-up, but providing she is, it's hard for me to see any particular reason why she would suddenly keel over in the middle of this one. And I don't think it's on pregnant women to avoid doing things they are routinely doing and fully capable of doing in case it makes other people worry. Other people's worry is on them.

if your feeling good go for it! I have no hip issues and am no gigantic at 37 weeks and would definitely go for it personally. Its only 6 miles and you can take it super slow. I dd a 4 mile walk last weekend and although I was dead after I can't see any harm if your feeling good and sprightly still. The less I do the more tired I am so when i'm on the move I feel better often.

You are a few weeks ahead of me though and I do remember being very knackered at 39 weeks with my last. So many poor women seem to suffer from hip issues and uncomfort so if you like me and you are still able to spring up the odd staircase go for it for all those who can't!

Good luck!

10k is quite far for 39 weeks! I was utterly exhausted at 39 weeks

I went to 40+3 in one of our hotter summers. It was a straightforward pregnancy and I was well but the heat in the last fortnight of pg made it a bit of a struggle. I went out for a walk with DH at dusk every night but my feet had swollen enough to make anything but flip flops uncomfy and I only wanted to wear a giant tent of a dress. My subsequent babies were all born before 39 weeks.
If you're going to be walking behind your team and alone towards the end, will you be off road?

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I am still in two minds about it, but will have a chat with the organisers on Monday. It is an inner city walk, so completely urban and so very easy for me to abort at any time should I need to. I realise it entirely depends on how this pregnancy goes and would obviously listen to my body. If I think I can't do it because of various late pregnancy ailments or because it is too hot then I won't even attempt it. I have a fairly strong bladder and think I could get away with three toilet breaks. I would obviously take my phone and DP would be on hand if necessary so no team mates would feel obliged. I have no experience of going into labour naturally but would have thought that if it does happen during the walk, then it could equally happen in the Supermarket. I think having this as my target would help me stay motivated to keep fit, which can only be helpful during labour. I will be waking one 10K a day now anyway as decided to stop cycling as of Monday. It won't be in one stretch but broken down into two chunks, but will give me a good idea of what I am capable of when the time comes. The fact that opinions are pretty much 50/50 I think I will go ahead. I like the suggestion a PP made to say 'either at 39 weeks or when baby is 6 months old'. Thank you all!

Do you need to make a commitment or decision now? With my first, I was fit as a fiddle, no pain, no swelling, no injuries - to the extent that I would forget I had a big bump and I'd get stuck in a gate I hadn't opened wide enough! With my second, I was crippled with SPD and the walk from my front door to the public transport stop (less than 100 yards) would bring me to tears every day. I have no idea why that pregnancy was so radically different. You have no idea what the future holds, so I think postponing a decision until much closer is the wisest choice.

Best wishes.