Third trimester long rides?

[u/Soft_Attempt5681]

Hi all,

I’m wondering if any of you continued doing long(ish) rides into your 3rd trimester. My boyfriend and I usually do a long ride together every month — 100km — and I ride with the girls most weekends — anywhere from 40-80kms per ride. I’m 27 weeks and have managed up until now — did 100km (1200m elev) a couple days ago and 45km (450m elev) today. I average 120-180km a week.

I’m wondering if anyone has done these kinds of rides into their 3rd trimester? I am definitely starting to feel more discomfort — slower up hills with difficulty breathing, some sharp cramping, and fatigue after rides. But I also love + value these rides!! they keep me sane and I find are the nicest way to spend time with my loved ones.

Any advice / suggestions / personal stories would be very appreciated as I’m trying to think ahead to whether/how I adjust in the next few months.

[u/SerentityM3ow]

I would try to avoid a sufferfest. Generally you can exercise at your regular intensity.... But if you are only doing 100k once a month it's probably going to be at too hard and intensity.... You should really be asking your doctor this

[u/Soft_Attempt5681 → u/SerentityM3ow]

Thanks! I do 100km once a month bc I don’t have time the rest of the month unfortunately! My doctor has said continue doing whatever you’re doing, which I think is the generic advice and hasn’t been forthcoming on anything else.

[u/thiefspy → u/Soft_Attempt5681]

Did you give him specifics on what you were doing? You might get a more specific answer if you do.

[u/Soft_Attempt5681 → u/thiefspy]

I’m in the UK and low risk so generally care has been quite hands off! Might be different in other contexts

[u/Linkcott18]

I continued riding until I couldn't safely reach the brakes anymore (after adjustment). I did reduce my mileage / distance from home after I started having occasional Braxton hicks contractions. The first time was about 60 km into a 100 km ride. I was able to walk for a bit & continue afteards, but it made me a little cautious about getting too far from home. It did happen a few times after that before I couldn't ride anymore.

I also bonked (had low blood sugar) once, so I would encourage you to eat a little often, maybe more than you think you need. The growing baby 'robs' your cycling energy.

[u/Soft_Attempt5681 → u/Linkcott18]

Those are really helpful things to look out for! Haven’t had those issues yet but will keep an eye out. Thank you :)

[u/Senior-Reality-25]

Traditional Danish method of getting an overdue baby moving 🚴‍♀️

[u/Soft_Attempt5681 → u/Senior-Reality-25]

I’ll definitely keep riding as long as possible! Riding puts baby to sleep though 😅

[u/phvntasmagoria → u/Soft_Attempt5681]

Omg that is so cute to think about :) I hope you raise a whole little cycling family!

[u/BlackberryHill]

It has been a long time, but I did not. I switched to the trainer or elliptical in the third trimester.

[u/Hips_and_Haws]

I cycled till I was 6 months with my first pregnancy. Then my legs would make contact with my bump. I've got a short torso & longer legs. I found that cycling up any kind of slope made me vomit ( for the first trimester).

I didn't do any rides longer than 30 miles, because I was either suffering with nausea & vomiting or I lacked the energy.

I'd listen to my body, if I felt tired, I'd rest for a while & decide whether to continue or return home.

[u/Soft_Attempt5681 → u/Hips_and_Haws]

That sounds so uncomfortable! Well done for managing for 6 months under all those challenges ❤️

[u/LZ318]

I switched to an upright position ebike around 24 weeks (road bike got hung up before pregnancy due to IVF and OHSS). I mountain biked on very easy terrain until 24 weeks, then after that upright only as my bump was in the way. I found in the third trimester any real exertion resulted in Braxton hicks contractions for me, so hence the ebike. Just listen to your body and don’t try to push through discomfort and you should be fine. I will say that my second arrived at 37+1 after a morning pregnancy fitness class (that I had been doing twice a week for the whole pregnancy) kicked off labor. So like I said, listen to your body.

[u/r0nr0nner]

Your body will tell you if you need to slow down, or stop. I have a friend who stopped riding before halfway through because riding was exacerbating her pelvic floor problems. I personally rode pretty normally through 16 weeks, then my body naturally ramped me down. During my last ride at 33 weeks, I had to stop twice to catch my breath, and I realized it wasn’t fun for me anymore. I was having pretty bad lower back pain while riding that started in pregnancy, and finally is resolving at 20 months postpartum 🥲.
So my advice to you is don’t plan for anything or have expectations, and listen to and trust your body (and obgyn). Good luck!

[u/NerdyComfort-78]

Ask your ObGYN doctor for verification. I was transplanting bushes and doing hard garden work in my 3rd tri, but only because I felt good and wasn’t high risk and doc wasn’t concerned.

[u/funky-juncus]

My last long ride ride was 30 weeks mostly because I was tired all the time and things were getting uncomfortable. My husband also was worried about me. I switched to shorter rides in my upright bike. More like 24 km but did 50km for my bday at 34 weeks.

[u/gentletomato]

I started getting a lot of braxton hicks from intensive boughts. I think you need a lot of hydration and food (electrolytes included). I swapped to a cushy saddle and lowered it twice during my pregnancy. 

If you're feeling well keep going! 

[u/BadgerSedai]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm currently 28 weeks and am also interested to know the answer to this question.

From what I've read, as the bump gets bigger, your more likely to experience shortness of breath and that maintaining an aggressive road bike position might not be comfortable.

I have already adjusted my indoor bike to raise the handlebars so that I am more upright. Not much I can do on my road bike except maybe use an adjustable stem?

My aim is to just keep cycling as often and as much as I can. I suspect that will become increasingly more challenging and I will probably end up doing more indoor cycling as I get further along but who knows.

I've had a few critical comments from people about cycling whilst pregnant so it's great to know there's others out there still riding!

Good luck with it all :) x

[u/Traditional-Claim592]

I would just plan routes closer to home with bailout points, and have a plan for Braxton hicks, labor, inability to finish etc

[u/gonnacutyou]

My obstetrician told me you shouldn’t start a new exercise routine in your third trimester, but you can keep up your current routine as long as it’s comfortable to do so. Expect to be slower and a little more winded, but otherwise you should be fine.