Can pregnant women ride a bike? Risks of cycling during pregnancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnancy is a period of new experiences, unknown sensations and a huge number of prohibitions. Especially a lot of restrictions are imposed on everything related to physical activity. According to others, a young, full of he alth woman, becoming pregnant, suddenly becomes seriously ill. All she is now allowed to do is leisurely walks in the park. The question of whether pregnant women can ride a bike is not even discussed.

But pregnancy is not a disease at all. I would like, as before, to communicate with a group of friends, to make forays into nature, to play sports. However, numerous "no" and "dangerous" sounds from all sides prevent this.

What doctors say about this

Opinions about whether pregnant women can ride a bike are extremely controversial. Sometimes you can hear absolutely opposite judgments. There is no agreement on this issue even among physicians. Some believe that cycling is extremely beneficial for the he alth of the expectant mother and her baby, and there is no need to deny yourself such pleasure. Especially if beforepregnancy, the woman led an active lifestyle and was engaged in this sport.

Others, on the contrary, argue that cycling while pregnant is extremely dangerous because of the risk of falling. After all, with the onset of pregnancy, changes occur not only in the appearance of a woman. Dizziness, absent-mindedness, poor concentration, a tendency to faint with a sharp change in body position - almost every woman who is expecting a child faces these phenomena. For some, they are temporary, while others suffer from them throughout the entire waiting period. So there is no definite answer to the question of whether it is possible for pregnant women to ride a bicycle. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.

Critical periods of pregnancy

According to doctors, there are periods in each trimester of pregnancy when the unborn baby is especially vulnerable:

• from the second to the end of the third week;
• 8th to 12th;
• eighteenth to twenty-fourth week;
• 28 to 32.

The above times are the times when you should be most careful. Cycling is best replaced with relaxing walks on foot. If the previous pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at a certain time, then this time should also be attributed to the critical period and be extremely attentive to your condition.

How can pregnant women ride a bike

The inevitable weight gain during pregnancy causes significant discomfort and the need to find new, more comfortable positions. Especially often women complain of back pain. For this reason, the choice of a bicycle should be approached very responsibly.

Due to the need to constantly keep the lower back straight, pregnant women can only ride a bike with a high handlebar and an upright seat. Thus, road and mountain bikes, where it is necessary to constantly keep the body in an inclined position, are not suitable for a pregnant woman.

You should also pay attention to the shape of the saddle and frame. The saddle should be wide, comfortable and slightly springy. It is advisable to purchase a special women's one, riding on which does not cause scuffs. As for the frame, then definitely preference should be given to female or folding models. After all, sitting on a women's bike with a low frame is much easier than throwing a leg over the high bar of a men's bike.

Pregnant woman cycling safety rules

In addition to choosing the right model, the bike must be in perfect technical condition. If there are steep ascents, descents, or the need to raise or lower the bike up or down stairs along the way, you should adjust your route.

Better to drive an extra hundred meters around on a flat road than to strain once again. The clothes of a pregnant woman shouldbe made of natural materials, do not restrict movement and be bright enough to be clearly visible from a distance.

How pregnant women benefit from cycling

During pregnancy, many women find it difficult to ride public transport. Odors and lack of fresh air can cause dizziness, nausea, or fainting. Plus, rush hour travel can be downright dangerous.

Traveling in your own car also does not cause much enthusiasm. On rough roads, the car can throw up sharply, and the smell of gasoline becomes very unpleasant. A leisurely bike ride is the way to go.

Regular cycling strengthens muscles, makes a woman stronger and more resilient. Doing such sports strengthens the nervous system, helps fight stress and depression.

After giving birth to a child, a woman often begins to feel like she is locked in a cage. Lack of sleep, 24-hour baby care and the need to do housework are very exhausting. In order to bring yourself back to normal, you need to briefly leave the child with a nanny or one of the relatives and go for a bike ride. After the birth of a child, riding a bike will help you lose weight and quickly return to your prenatal shape. So in most cases, the answer to the question of whether pregnant women can ride a bike will be yes.

When cycling is absolutely contraindicated

Sorry,pregnancy does not always go as smoothly as we would like. Despite the fact that in most cases all problems are resolved safely and a he althy baby is born, there are still situations when doctors' prohibitions are absolutely justified.

The risk of miscarriage is the main answer to why pregnant women shouldn't ride a bike. Even if the threat has already passed and the condition is currently stable, all cycling should be postponed until the postpartum period.

High blood pressure and the threat of preeclampsia is another serious reason why pregnant women should not ride a bike.

In addition, such walks are highly undesirable with increased uterine tone, abnormal position of the fetus, acute toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy. When such problems arise, it is better to replace cycling with quiet walks.