Minneapolis is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., and many European countries are even more reliant on bicycling. In Denmark, not even labor keeps women off their bikes!
We encourage lots of walking during labor; in Denmark, it would not be unusual (according to this article) to find a laboring woman riding her bike to the hospital. WOW!
Here in town, we know a mama who biked from first through third trimester. Check out the amazing Lisa S. on her bike at 39 weeks pregnant!
Lisa and her husband are big biking advocates— here’s another photo from just a few days ago when they took their second son for his first bike ride in their Bakfiets (a dutch cargo bike).
Were you comfortable biking during pregnancy? Could you imagine biking during labor?
Love,
Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma
I love seeing this (envy that bike). 33 years ago, I biked 5 miles to work, 5 miles home on my orange Magneet (also a Dutch bike) until I was 38 weeks pregnant, and it turned HOT and my feet started to swell. I stopped at the request of my midwives, but, oh, did I miss it!
Oh, that is wonderful, Suzanne! I’m fairly certain most women are told not to bike while pregnant (starting in the second trimester, perhaps?) — at least that’s what I was told during my first pregnancy. If there are any midwives or OBs out there reading this, I’d love to hear your thoughts on why this is. Fear of falling?
Love Lisa
She rules. Personally, I didn’t bike in pregnancy, because I am way more clumsy that Lisa. I also didn’t ski. But I DID have my baby at home… so I’m not a total loser.
You wouldn’t be a loser anyway! Each woman should do exactly what she’s comfortable with in her own body. Kudos to you for doing just that.
I love the Bakfiets! Definitely on my wish list…
Amazing! I love biking but was discouraged from it after my second trimester due to the risk of falling. So I retired my bike last summer, which was sad. Did anyone else get this advice? I’d love to be able to bike with my second if possible.
I didn’t get any advice but I was occasionally biking pregnant with my toddler on the back – I stopped around five or six months along though since the bike required me to lift my leg high over the bar and seat to get on – balancing myself and my toddler – not the best idea! These Dutch (or many women’s style bikes) have very very low bars to cross – wish I had one!
@Angela. The medical establishment in this country values risk avoidance over a healthy lifestyle. They’re risk assessment logic is completely broken and they fail to grasp that by seeing danger around every corner, and by promoting that negative view with their clients, that they are merely enabling the stationary American lifestyle. To American doctors cycling is a dangerous activity that requires special protective gear…something that should be feared.
American doctors are a powerful ally in keeping people in their cars and off of bicycles with their constant pushing of helmets…usage of which is almost non-existent in northern European cycling countries. It’s yet another example of the establishment getting the story wrong in America, just as we have with birthing and the medicalization of pregnancy.
Cheers!
-Tad S. (from the above article )
Yay! Thanks, Tad for your post! I normally bike 5,000-6,000 miles a year when not pregnant, and was worried that my practitioner would advise against it. My midwives are all for it, and at 22 weeks, I’ve biked every day. Whereas I would normally ride in an angled racing position, I’ve modified my bike to a bolt upright position, to accommodate my growing belly.
If someone was worried about balance issues, she could ride a 3-wheeled bike, if she had the means to get one. Those who are accustomed to biking a lot should keep it up, if balance doesn’t become an issue.
American society (mostly the old-school) has somehow equated pregnancy with an affliction that means you should not exert yourself in any way- we know better now! (and we also know that there are other ways to give birth than lying down in a hospital bed) In the US, a person is statistically much more likely to be involved in a car crash than a bike crash, but you don’t see any doctors advising against pregnant women riding in cars, do you!
Once the baby arrives, we are planning to get a cargo bike that an infant seat can bolt right into. Is that what you ended up doing, Tad?
Both of our cargo bikes are from the Netherlands. The odd looking bike with the wooden box in the front is called a “Bakfiets” in Dutch, which translates to “box bike.” While pricey, they are well worth the money for hauling kids around. I’ve been commuting to work and daycare with our son, Marek, for a couple of years now and I wouldn’t trade this bike for the world. While a trailer is a simple and cheap way to add cargo capacity, it’s so much better to have your kids in front where you can see them and converse with them!
Good move on going with a more relaxed riding position. We Americans are obsessed with using sport bikes for city riding, which is something that will have to change as biking becomes more mainstream and more cyclists on the roads. Like motorists, we will have to slow down and make way for children and the elderly on the paths.
We’ve been eyeing the bakfiets- they are the best possible cargo bike for stability and contact with your baby, in my opinion.
The part I was wondering about was whether/how you actually affixed a baby carrier/seat into the cargo box. Did you use straps? Did you bolt the base (the part that would normally strap into a car) onto the bench somehow?
Great question. We put the whole detachable part of the car seat into the bucket and then use some simple bungee cords that wrap around the carrier handle and affix to the bike to secure it and minimize vibrations. Works great. If you’re even keen to stop over and get a demo and take a test ride let us know.
Like Jana Velo I bike thousands of miles a year but have lost count of how many. I just had my first baby in September and biked through 38 weeks. My midwives were very supportive of my wish to continue biking throughout pregnancy. They encouraged me to continue my usual pre-pregnancy activities ‘within reason’ (which meant competitive cycling was out.) Biking for pleasure and bike commuting to work helped me maintain fitness throughout my pregnancy was so very beneficial for labor and birth. My birth was relatively quick and free of complications, which I attribute fitness from being active and biking throughout the 3rd trimester. For anyone considering biking during pregnancy, I’d recommend biking as longs as your comfortable and feel confident on the bike.
I’m due Sunday with #2. This pregnancy has been different from the last in many ways, including biking. I normally bike 3,000 – 4,000 miles a year. With #1 I biked 1,000 miles while pregnant and biked to work daily until month 7. I was just too tired after that for a daily ride, but still rode frequently. My midwives encouraged it and thought it was great that I rode to all my appointments until the end (the clinic was 3 miles from my house).
This time, however, has been different. First, having a 3-year old and a husband that works second shift, has limited my biking because I can’t tow the trailer by myself and I’m hardly ever with my husband due to his work schedule. I’ve also had to pick #1 up from day care which has limited my biking to work. I ended up bussing and walking a lot until giving into driving in the last 2 weeks. This has been the biggest hinderance. Secondly, I also got bigger faster and have been just plain uncomfortable, although biking is often more comfortable that walking. My midwives have encouraged me to be active in anyway I’m comfortable – whether it is biking, walking, yoga, or hanging diapers on the clothesline.
When I was laboring with #1, I imagined biking up Ramsey Hill on a single speed and rocked my hips/walked in place. Each foot fall was a pedal stroke and I counted them. I was fine so long as no one interrupted my counting! So, in a way, I was “biking” in labor.
Dana, I love the biking-while-in-labor visualization! I can close my eyes and completely imagine this. Best wishes during your second labor. Maybe you’ll cycle your way right through it!
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