cycling in late pregnancy

[gillythekid]

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and exercise regularly. I have uneven leg lengths so my pelvis is now feeling the strain and obstetric physio says it's a form of SPD but agrees I have no probs opening legs, swimming etc. It has become really painful to walk any longer than 10 mins these last few weeks, even with the girdle on so I've been going to my aqua fit and yoga on the bike. I use only quiet routes, cycle paths etc and wear a helmet and go v slow. I feel perfectly safe but some people seem to think I'm dicing with death. What's the latest anyone felt comfy doing this, if at all?

Littlefrog - that is a fantastic picture, I need one of those!!

As for my handlebars - they are up as far as they go unfortunately, but I still need to lean over quite a bit. Is maybe a consequence of riding a blokes bike or something - is not too bad though, and I am not riding a lot so the occasional bit of bump squashing is OK.

I cycled right through my pregnancy and loved it; it kept me feeling like my old self. I changed my handlebars to sit up and beg ones at about 30 weeks. I would really recommend this as it was so comfy. I dropped my mileage a lot from about 100m a week at 25 weeks to 20m a week at the end. I also slowed right down and became a lot more cautious with traffic. Keep cycling as long as it feels right for you.

Loving all these stories!! Decided to try the Lido today for a gentle swim, thought I'd drive as they said there's a few spaces....20p for 6 minutes...thieving b*stards!!! Will work out a quiet route on the bike methinks! Thankfully I was spared the £4 entry as I have a borough-wide pass. Not suffering from duck legs yet, not cycling far enough to exert too much either. Will ask physio on Thursday and see what she thinks. Thank you for your advice which I will consider carefully.

Its my first time on mumsnet and im so pleased i found it.Im 5 months pregnant and have to cycle..its my only option at the moment, to take my 3yr old daughter to preschool. Alot of my friends and family think its wrong and that im over doing it at times, which is really stressing me out as its my only option of transport...bus stop too far for a 3yr old to walk...etc.
I feel fine although a little breathless at times, and quite hungry when i get home.
Thanks for everyones advice....stop when your body feels its too much.

HI Susie, Welcome to MN! I also cycled late into 4 pregnancies.

Cylcing - road riding and mountain biking - is my main pass time and I was cycling - road riding and mountain biking - with caution, until about 27 weeks. Bump now (30 weeks) too big to do it comfortably. Really miss it. Doing lots of walking to keep legs in trim!

This has been such an interesting and helpful thread to read.

I am 5 months gone, and cycle to work (around 30 mins)- slowly, through London's back streets

You would not BELIEVE the amount of 'friends' who have told me I should not be cycling - some of them have never got on a bike in their lives! its driving me mad, the way they tut and shake their heads as if i am going sky-diving or something, and don't care about my baby.

I drive long journeys by car too, but no-one tells me to stop doing that - aren't i just as likley to have a motorway accident?

I was going to give up at 6 months, but after having read this, am going to go on as long as i can.

Thanks everyone

haha, same here!!!
WHAT you're still cycling? What ALL THE WAY TO WORK? (It's 3 and half miles and takes 15-20 mins!)
I neglect to tell them about the mountain biking!
One friend even told her mum, who told my mum that she was shocked I was still cycling. Fortunately my mum just found it bemusing.

I cycled in pregnancy as well and when preg with ds3 i cycled pulling ds1 and ds2 along in a trailer.

My mil was horrified. I also had spd and found cycling better than walking.

Be guided by your body and how you ferl :)

I think what worries people isn't the exercise as such, it's the fact that balance is more difficult when heavily pregnant hence the risk of falling off rises significantly. If you are pootling along back streets I don't see the problem, but wobbling along an A road with the wind drag caused by large trucks passing is probably very unwise.

Like everything, everyone has a different risk threshold. I'm not cycling, but I am still doing lots of other exercise. In fact I feel very sick and get bump ache if I don't get outside and walk for at least an hour every day.

Ancient thread. The op probably has three dcs by now!

I was cycling to work (about 1.5 miles each way) until a couple of days before DD1, and the day before DD2, plus when PG with DD2 I had DD1 in a front bike seat :) It definitely kept me feeling fit and healthy and I'm sure contributed to their easy labours. I wouldn't take up a new form of exercise, but if it's something you already do, you needn't stop unless there's any discomfort. I put the handlebars up nice and high so I was in a sit-up-and-beg position which was more comfy on the bump area.

Whoops, well spotted NL