bike ride?

[northwoods]

I have been invited to a bike tour of chicken coops, and I'd really like to participate. I'll be about 23 weeks. Anyone have experience riding a bike at this stage?

[sanguine_speed]

If you're otherwise active and healthy, this should be no problem at all!
Sounds like fun!

[somegirl99]

I'm at 22 weeks and still riding my bike. I am avoiding serious climbs and descents (I live in the mountains), and my stamina/endurance is down from what it normally is, but otherwise I haven't had any issues and it's a nice way to get exercise.

Is the tour providing water and snacks? If not make sure you bring more than normal with you.

[calpurnia]

I rode my bike occasionally during pregnancy, although not after 30 weeks I don't think. My mum claims to have been riding her bike until the day before going into labour with me.

[bendmom]

I rode during both my last pregnancies, just made sure I was around bathrooms here and there. The only uncomfortable thing was that my thighs hit my belly. SOunds like fun though, we just saw the movie "Mad City Chickens" and will be going on our town's coop tour in May.

[Pinoikoi]

I think there are lots and lots of women in say, China (or some other country where most people ride bikes), that probably ride their bikes until they give birth..

[somegirl99]

I've read about Dutch women riding to the hospital when they're in labor.

I'm hoping to ride as long as possible, although at some point I'll probably switch to mostly riding my folding bike as it has a more upright position and lower top tube than my road bike.

[KarenEMT]

I rode my road bike until about 18 weeks in my 3rd pregnancy, when I couldn't stand my thighs hitting my belly any longer, then I switched to DH's hybrid and rode another month or two.

I had pre-existing stress urinary incontinence from pregnancy #2 or I'd have kept riding longer into the pregnancy.

[matey]

I still ride my bike now (19 weeks) and with my last pregnancy I was still riding past 7 months.

[Redheaded_Momma]

I have rode my bike a few times in the last few weeks. I'm 21 weeks. I hope to be able to ride more since it's starting to get nice out!

[lrgs]

I'm 22 weeks now and wishing the snow away so I can get in a bit of biking before I get huge. I don't think there would be any problems with it........just don't go off any jumps

[BlackSheepPDX]

As long as you fit (your legs don't bump your belly and annoy you) you're probably fine. A more upright cruiser will be easier than a road bike.

[sanguine_speed]

I went for a bike ride with my kids last night (36 weeks preggo) and didn't have my legs touching my belly at all. I think many people ride with the seat too low. Your leg should be at almost full extension when your pedal is down. Now I did find it uncomfortable if I straddled the crossbar as the seat was in my back and my belly was squished into the handlebars .

[mtbmomma]

I rode up until a week before my daughter was born. That was our only form of transportation. I think my midwife found it quite funny that I biked the 4 miles to all my prenatal visits. We joked that if I had been planning to have the baby in the birthing center, then we would have biked there too!

A mountain or recreation style bike is much easier to ride when really pregnant, then a road bike. I think I used my road bike up until the middle of the second trimester, but I was small.