Cycling while pregnant keeps you fit and prepares your body for the uphill struggle of childbirth
Sam Hadad even pregnant still rides her bike. Photograph: Factory Media
When I first emailed colleagues to let them know I was pregnant among the congratulations and “That’ll cause a dip in the Smirnoff share price”-type chortle came this unexpected note from our receptionist, “You’re not still cycling to work are you? Is that safe?”
The truth was I didn’t know. As an avid cyclist, with a firm belief that riding to and from work makes living in London not just bearable but actually quite pleasurable, it was one of the first things I’d Googled after the test shone positive. Yet the advice was conflicting. Everyone agreed on the physical and psychological benefits of moderate, low-impact exercise during a low-risk pregnancy, and the NHS advises women to “keep up your normal daily physical activity or exercise for as long as you feel comfortable”. But it also warns against cycling “because there’s a risk of falling”. A sentiment echoed by parenting sites, such as the NCT and BabyCentre, the latter warning against all but riding an exercise bike as “even if you’re an experienced cyclist, there’s a danger you’ll fall or be knocked off your bike.”
Really? Granted some accidents will be tragically unavoidable, but isn’t that the case when you cross a road or get into your car?
Thankfully the CTC – the national cyclists’ organisation – was on hand with positive advice and useful tips from raising your handlebars and fitting lower gears to the more spirited “cut down on those off-road descents and don’t race-train in a pack”. They also tell you to consult your doctor first, which I did. She saw no reason why I shouldn’t cycle as long as I took it easy and listened to my body. At three months in, my body was feeling good, with the only sniff of morning sickness coming on the rare mornings when I took the train and bus to work, which also doubled my journey time.
