[whoabethy]

hi there,
just got my first BFP yesterday!

: i commute and travel by bike and i'm wondering should i continue? i didn't today because of the rain...but there's always tomorrow. has anyone else commuted by bike during pregnancy? if so, how far was your commute? how long into the pregnancy did you keep biking?

i'm really, really early into this process and i don't want to take too many chances. but...i love biking. love it. not biking would make me sad, complicate my commute (bus!), and reduce my exercise. but, i'll do it if it need to be done!

thanks for the opinions/help!

 

[kathleen_mary]

Hi!

I am 13 weeks, and also do some cycling and backpacking. The best advice seems to be that if you were doing it before, you can continue, at least through the first trimester. Now, I only have about a 4 mile commute, but I do bike recreationally on the weekends and did about 25 or 30 miles a few weeks ago without any problems. I noticed that I get out of breath a lot faster and I just try to take it easier than I used to. My husband also surprised me by fixing my bike up...he took my drop bars off and put on a higher stem so that I don't have to lean over as much! The biggest warning about biking is losing your balance, so I plan to stop riding on the road and stick to bike trails when I get bigger. Luckily 4 miles is not too bad of a walk, so I can keep up that exercise at least one way to work.

Just to warn you, some of my doctors seem to be a little on the traditional side and they advised me against both backpacking and cycling, but my research indicates as long as you listen to your body, keep heart rate under 140 and don't dehydrate or overheat, you are all good.

 

[Carlin]

I commuted for a couple of months at the beginning of my pregancy (5 miles each way.) The only reason I stopped is that winter here sucks for cyclists and, when I can't use the bike trails because they are covered with snow from November to April I have to ride on very busy, snow covered, rutted roads. If the climate was better I would have kept riding all pregnancy.

I think as long as you listen to your body, there's no reason to stop riding. You might have to slow down a little and give your self more time than usual, but I think the exercise is really good. Most of the world wouldn't think twice about a pregnant woman riding a bike. It's only here that it's seen as some kind of anomaly.

 

[kcparker]

I have an old 10-speed road bike, and I rode that to work every day until I was about 8 months pregnant with my first son, until my belly got too big for me to pedal without splaying my knees out to the side and it was just too darned uncomfortable to be bent over the handlebars and pedal. I rode all through the Iowa winter except on days when conditions were too icy to bike safely. Wear a helmet, don't go on super-dangerous streets or hot-dog it around, and you can keep riding for as long as it is comfortable and feel confident about your balance. I think it's great exercise when you're pregnant.

 

[Peony]

I biked until 5 or 6 months with my last pg. It got way too uncomfortable to lean over to go up hills, the fact that I was pulling a trailer didn't help either.... If you are used to doing it then no reason to stop.

 

[zubeldia]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and live in Maine, so not much cycling because of the weather (and sickness). For the first few weeks, though, I WAS road biking quite a bit. The cold and slippery conditions put a stop to it, but we're expecting some great weather this weekend and I'm tempted! My Dr. said that it was fine.. although you need to watch your center of gravity and not push it.

I have heard of many women cycling well into pregnancy, though many swap out their road bikes for town/hybrids for a more upright position!

Good luck, and congrats!
Zubee

 

[rzberrymom]

I lived in the Netherlands, and just about every woman I met had cycled throughout pregnancy. There were even a bounty of stories of women who went into labor while on the bike. And on the whole, they have REALLY easy labors compared to American women--I've always been convinced it has a lot to do with all that bike riding! (some of course is due to all the homebirths, but homebirth is really not all that common with a first pregnancy)

I'm not sure I'd really call myself a "cyclist", but I ride everywhere with my 4 year old on my bike rather than use the car. I feel VERY strong this pregnancy--like I could take on the world because of all this bike riding. I can't wait to see the effect it has on my labor!

 

[anacaro]

I just found your post today, so it might be too late to respond. I hope you have been able to keep riding your bike.
I am now on my 29th week and keep riding. I hope to keep it up until the 34th week. Before pregnancy I used to go everywhere by bike, running errands, grocery shopping, etc., but now I only commute to work. The ride is 8 miles each way and most of it is on the greenway or on the marked bike lane streets.
As you mentioned, biking makes me happy too and taking the train/bus is very stressful for me. My dh is great and supports me in my decision and knows that I will not be negligent and will stop when my body gives me the signal. Other people are less encouraging, but I just do not let it get me.
I saw you live in Brooklyn so perhaps we can get together for a ride at Central Park one of these days.