Pelvic pain this early in pregnancy?!

[EventingMaff]

I’m 17 weeks pregnant and rode this past weekend (as usual) for a light ~25 minutes walk/trot on my mare. When I got off it felt like I’d been in the saddle for ages and the rest of the day I was a stiff limping mess. After a lowkey evening on the ouch and a good night’s sleep I was mostly back to normal but still felt a bit ‘raw’.

Yesterday mare was a hot sweaty mess when I brought her in from the paddock so I opted to give her the day off - so no repeat experiment yet of whether this was a one-off or my new pregnancy normal.

I anticipated that riding would get uncomfortable eventually but was really hoping to make it to 25 weeks.

Is pelvic pain and discomfort “normal” (I realize every woman and pregnancy is different)?? Ugh so disappointed that riding may be off the table so much earlier than I hoped – especially now that the weather is FINALLY clear and dry!!!

[Beck]

Definitely a time to be cautious!

Of course you are right about every person’s experience of pregnancy being different. So anyone on here can only relate their own, which may not apply to you. And we are all understandably cautious about offering what may be taken to be important medical advice.

If your pain is extreme, and/or is accompanied by other symptoms, see your medical care provider asap.

Your hormones will already be affecting the ligaments in the pelvis and joints that have been relatively immobile all your life to date will be loosening, allowing the bones more movement than what you may be used to. The nature of the activity of riding adds to the stresses on your pelvic area, so it isn’t surprising that you’d be made more aware of the changes. At 17 weeks the round ligament (that supports the uterus) typically starts to make major adjustments. Your physician or medical care provider should be made aware of your concerns: they are in a better position to reassure you as to what is within ‘normal’ expectations.

[streamline]

My DR told me basically all your ligaments/tendons/everything else gets extra lazy when you’re pregnant. Could be why you’re hurting.

I know my all over muscle tone has gotten icky since I’ve been pregnant. Even with my regular work. I’m on my feet 8+ hours a day lifting old people (bending over, putting shoes on etc)

I stopped riding at 32 ish weeks… mostly because when I get home from work I go right to sleep. I had some ligament pain while riding.

My doctor wasn’t super happy about me riding because “even your best broke horse can have a freak accident”

I was out riding a 5 year old TB moving 300+ cows so 😂 I know lots of people who stop riding right again. I guess the first trimester is when to be extra super cautious.

[PNWjumper]

I rode through both of my pregnancies. I discovered that if I took a single day off I got a lot of round ligament pain the next time I rode. If I rode every single day I was pretty much never sore. So my feeling was that during pregnancy my choices were “ride every single day” or “ride no days.” Not saying those should be your only choices, but if you’ve taken a day or two off maybe plan to cut yourself a break and ride very lightly that first day? 25 minutes (even though it was just walk/trot) isn’t really a “light” ride in regard to an ever-changing pregnant body. Maybe plan for a 5-10 minute ride and then build back up from there.

My doctor supported my riding, but he did say that pay attention to how I felt and if I felt legit pain to please not push through it. So I guess I would echo that.

[candyappy]

I never had pain when riding while pregnant. I think you need to talk to your doctor, tell them exactly what you are feeling and not ride until you get their o.k.

Not worth the risk.

[EventingMaff]

Thanks all - I plan to talk about it with my midwife / OB later this week at my appointment. Both are supportive of my riding as long as I listen to my body and not push it. During the ride I had no issues, but as soon as I dismounted it was a bit uncomfortable and stiff (but not painful) and a couple hours later it became painful-stiffness.

I think PNWjumper hit the nail on the head that because I’m only intermittently riding (and my body is changing so quickly) that my irregularity is exacerbating the drastic hormonal changes to the ligament/tendon/muscle. I’m lucky if I get out during the week and am often a weekend warrior and there’s not change in sight for that unfortunately.

Looks like baby mare will be headed off to training sooner than I expected. Blegh.

[Jackie_Cochran]

When I was pregnant the first time I rode in my Stubben Siegfried because the seat was deeper and I thought it would be more secure.

Pain was the result, particularly in the pubic bone. This pain lasted at least 6 months.

My second pregnancy I decided to use my Crosby pancake saddle. I had NO PAIN throughout the whole pregnancy from riding, either in the saddle or later.

If your saddle has a deep seat then try to ride in a flatter saddle, your pubic bone will thank you.

Both pregnancies I rode up to the day before I entered labor (my first pregnancy my water broke on the way to the barn.) I did not do much riding the last month, but I did get up on my horse and walked and did some trot.

My first pregnancy, well my son would do calisthenics in the womb every night when I laid down to go to sleep and keep it up for hours. Then I discovered that if I did a few minutes of the sitting trot each day he let me sleep in blissful peace (my horse had a nice, smooth and slow sitting trot.) So each pregnancy, for the last month, I walked, I did the posting trot, and I also did the sitting trot.

The results were two healthy boys, both over 8 lbs.