Pregnancy is a period of new experiences, unexplored sensations and a huge number of prohibitions. Especially a lot of restrictions are imposed on everything related to motor activity. According to others, a young, healthy woman, having become pregnant, suddenly becomes seriously ill. All she is now allowed is leisurely walks in the park. The question of whether pregnant women can ride a bicycle is not even discussed.
But pregnancy is not a disease at all. I would like, as before, to communicate with a company of friends, to make outings in nature, to play sports. However, numerous “impossible” and “dangerous” sounds from all sides prevent this from happening.
What do doctors say about this
Opinions about whether pregnant women can ride a bicycle are extremely controversial. Sometimes you can hear completely opposite judgments. Even doctors have no agreement on this issue. Some believe that cycling is extremely beneficial for the health of the expectant mother and her baby and there is no need to deny yourself such pleasure. Especially if before pregnancy a woman led an active lifestyle and was engaged in this sport.
Others, on the contrary, argue that riding a bike for pregnant women is extremely dangerous because of the risk of falling. Indeed, with the onset of pregnancy, changes occur not only in the appearance of a woman. Dizziness, distraction, poor concentration, a tendency to fainting with a sharp change in body position - almost every woman who is expecting a baby is faced with these phenomena. For some, they are temporary, while others suffer from them throughout the waiting period. So there is no single answer to the question of whether pregnant women can ride a bicycle. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between.
Critical periods of pregnancy
According to doctors, in every trimester of pregnancy there are periods when an unborn baby is especially vulnerable:
- from the second to the end of the third week;
- eighth to twelfth;
- from eighteenth to twenty-fourth week;
- twenty-eighth to thirty-second.
The above periods are the times to be most careful. Cycling is best replaced by relaxing walks. If the previous pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at a certain time, then this time should also be attributed to a critical period and be extremely attentive to your condition.
How can pregnant women ride a bicycle
The inevitable weight gain during pregnancy causes significant discomfort and the need to search for new, more convenient positions. Especially often, women complain of lower 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 ride a bicycle only with a high steering wheel and a vertical landing. 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 resilient. It is advisable to purchase a special women's 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 female bike with a low frame is much easier than throwing your leg over the high crossbar of a male bike.
Safety Rules for a Pregnant Woman While Cycling
In addition to choosing the right model, it is necessary that the bike is in excellent technical condition. If steep climbs, descents occur along the route, or there is a need to raise or lower the bike along the stairs, you should adjust your route.
It’s better to drive an extra hundred meters bypassing on a flat road than to strain again. The clothes of a pregnant woman should be made of natural materials, not to restrict movements and be bright enough, clearly visible from a long distance.
Why cycling is good for a pregnant woman
During pregnancy, many women have difficulty transporting on public transport. Foreign odors and a lack of fresh air can cause dizziness, nausea, or fainting. In addition, rush hour trips can be dangerous.
Driving your own car is also not particularly enthusiastic. On rough roads, the car can be thrown sharply, and the smell of gasoline becomes very unpleasant. Slow cycling will be the best way out.
Regular cycling strengthens the muscles, makes the woman stronger, more resilient. Exercising in this sport strengthens the nervous system and helps fight stress and depression.
Having given birth to a child, a woman often begins to feel as if locked in a cage. Lack of sleep, round-the-clock care of the baby and the need to do homework are very exhausting. In order to bring yourself back to normal, you need to briefly leave the child with a nanny or any of the relatives and go for a bike ride. After giving birth, cycling can help you lose weight and quickly restore your prenatal form. So in most cases, the answer to the question of whether pregnant women can ride a bicycle will be positive.
When cycling is absolutely contraindicated
Unfortunately, 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 healthy baby is born, there are still situations where the prohibitions of doctors are absolutely justified.
The risk of abortion is the main answer to the question of why pregnant women should not ride a bike. Even if the threat has already passed and the condition is currently stable, all cycling should be postponed to the postpartum period.
High blood pressure and the threat of gestosis are another serious reason why pregnant women Do not ride a bike.
In addition, such walks with an increased uterine tone, an incorrect position of the fetus, and acute toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy are extremely undesirable. If you encounter such problems, cycling is best replaced with quiet walking.