Mum-to-be, Lucy, rides her bike everywhere. Now 16-weeks pregnant, she tells us how she’s kept cycling through the early months of her pregnancy. She explains what’s changed, how she feels riding whilst pregnant, and how she’s adapting her riding for her growing bump.
I鈥檓 currently 16 weeks pregnant, my sickness has eased off, I have a bit more energy and my pregnancy is public.
I still mainly want to eat beige food and don鈥檛 have as much energy as pre-pregnancy but things are pretty okay.
I knew as soon as I found out I was pregnant that I wanted to keep cycling for as long as I can.
I didn鈥檛 want to put a timeframe on it and will be listening to my body and doing what feels right for me.
So far I鈥檝e ridden my bike most days since conception and I鈥檇 like to share what I鈥檝e learnt.
听听
Is it okay to cycle while pregnant?
I鈥檝e had friends who鈥檝e cycled right up until their final week of pregnancy and others who鈥檝e stopped right from the beginning as it didn鈥檛 feel right for them.
I know that I want to keep riding my bike as it makes me feel so great and it鈥檚 also my mode of transport.
I don鈥檛 have a car and as I write it鈥檚 lockdown 3 so public transport is not an option for me at the moment.
I found it was important to get some medical advice so I asked my midwife. She said absolutely yes keeping cycling if it feels right for you.
She said it鈥檚 fine to keep doing any exercise I did pre-pregnancy but suggested not running any marathons which is absolutely fine with me!
听听
Other people鈥檚 opinions
Everyone has an opinion on what a pregnant woman should and shouldn鈥檛 be doing and quite a lot of people want to share this with you.
I鈥檝e found this a bit overwhelming.
This can be anything from diet, rest, exercise, sleeping position, and so much more.
Riding a bike definitely comes under this and people are pretty opinionated!
I鈥檝e kept my replies simple to things like 鈥渕y midwife has said it鈥檚 fine as long as I feel okay鈥 or 鈥業 don鈥檛 know how long I鈥檒l keep cycling, as long as I鈥檓 able to and it feels okay鈥.
For me having medical back up helped but it鈥檚 obviously not needed for everyone.
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The logistics of riding a bike with a growing bump
My bump is small so riding my bike is fine at the moment.
But it won鈥檛 be long before this changes and it might be more challenging.
I鈥檝e spoken to women who bought more upright sit up and beg Dutch-style bikes as they found it gave their bump more room so they could pedal.
I also know women who鈥檝e altered their pedalling so their knees go out to the side.
As yet I don鈥檛 know if these will be options I will do and what will work for me.
I鈥檝e noticed my balance is different in yoga classes and I wonder if and when this might start to impact me on a bike.
I鈥檓 keeping an open mind and am tuning into my body and how it feels and will make changes as and when the time feels right.
听听
How does it feel riding a bike when you're pregnant?
Before I knew I was pregnant I noticed that I was more out of breath walking and riding up hills.
I put this down to not exercising as much this year due to Covid but found it strange as I鈥檇 never experienced breathlessness quite like it.
Now it obviously makes sense but it鈥檚 my first pregnancy so it was something new to me.
I鈥檝e noticed my riding is slower and it feels like there鈥檚 a drag or the brakes are rubbing so it鈥檚 a little bit more effort.
I also need to keep an eye on my energy levels more and to keep hydrated so being prepared before going for a ride is even more important than ever. I鈥檓 noticing my hips more.
I鈥檝e always had tight hips which I stretch out in yoga, but this is a new feeling that I haven鈥檛 quite managed to put into words yet.
I know that I don鈥檛 want to push any pain there so I stop and rest when needed.
Generally riding a bike still feels great for me, I absolutely love going out for a spin along the seafront, out into nature, and feeling the elements on my skin.
I love zooming down hills, meeting a friend for a ride and catch up and feeling so alive and in my body.
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Read our tips for cycling during pregnancy.
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