Riding after baby

[clivers]

I took about 6-8 weeks to be back riding after my first (c-section) when I was 31 but about 10 months to be back competing… it took a while for my jumping confidence to return but it did eventually and I was able to work my way to the somewhat upper levels (CCI*/intermediate HT).

I had my second last year at 40 and was riding again at about 10 weeks postpartum (another c-section) but man, it’s taking forever for my lady jumping balls to grow back. I was nearly pooping myself over cross rails this weekend. The difference in healing time and return to fitness time are certainly having a big effect on the lack of guts. I also CANT SEEM TO LOSE THE BABY WEIGHT this time around and the extra 30lbs i’m lugging around is having a huge impact on how athletic and stable I feel in the saddle.

[GotSpots]

I was competing at Training level early in pregnancy, did a few hunter derbies up until 20 weeks and then the round ligament pain just made anything over a walk too uncomfortable. Even with an unplanned C, I sat on a sale horse at 5.5 weeks and was back riding every day and jumping at about 8 weeks. If you can figure out someone to watch them while you ride, babies are pretty portable when they are little - mine at four weeks old went to the vet’s with me when my older horse needed emergency surgery about 8pm! I strongly second clivers - getting the mental side back was much harder than I’d expected (though I chalk some of that up to starting to learn a new horse).

Just remember there is no “right” time to get back to riding. Do what feels right for your body and your family. Juggling baby care, particularly if you’re nursing, can be a struggle, and it’s totally ok to take a few weeks or months to figure out what is the right answer for your family and you.

[Heinz_57]

Loving all the feedback here… I’m also due this summer (4th of July) with #1.

[beau159]

I’m loving all the responses. I too am having my first baby in 3 months and had no idea what to expect after. I had kinda already told myself I wouldn’t be riding for the rest of the year, but I do secretly hope that’s not the case!

With it being winter, and with my horses getting hurt (YES both of them) last fall, and haven’t been doing much riding anyway. So super anxious to get back riding again someday!

[NeverTime]

It’s interesting for me to read this, too. My horse was (conveniently) already retired by the time my baby came along, so getting back to riding was just about getting back to my happy place, not about getting back to competing, so I can’t speak to that aspect of recovery like clivers and GotSpots did. However, I have a friend who posts here who had a dream not long after having her daughter that she was galloping around a prelim XC course (IIRC, she’d just done her first CCI* not long before getting pregnant) with the baby strapped into the baby carrier on the front of her body. Pretty good illustration of how you suddenly feel responsible for someone besides yourself!

FWIW, I also compete in triathlon and was doing half-Ironman distance after my horse retired and before I got pregnant. After I had the baby, a friend talked me into training for a short, off-road sprint tri taking place 6-7 months later. I did the race and it felt good to “be back,” but it’s the only triathlon I’ve done since she was born 3+ years ago. At the time, I was glad it was a sprint so involved very little training because getting in the swims, bikes and runs - short though they were - felt like a stress and an obligation rather than the “me time” I’d expected.
It’s not that I don’t exercise anymore, but for now at least, I’ve traded the time-consuming endurance sports (and, sadly, most of my dearly-beloved mountain biking) for quick-hit training like cycle classes and CrossFit. I just feel like my daughter needs enough of my time that I’d rather spend 1 hour exercising (or riding) than 3 hours. And, yes, I’m the kind of person who always said “I need my barn time/workout time; that’s what keeps me sane.”

[fordtraktor]

It really depends. The fact that you are riding now is a very good sign but you really need to not fall off so if your horse is going to act stupid, I would stick to the QH. It isn’t riding that is an issue, it is falling.

I had a naughty horse my first pregnancy and I quit riding him when he was porpoising around one day 12 weeks in, slipped on the grass and we both ended up rolling. Oops. That isn’t on the OB/GYN list of recommended pregnant woman activities. Luckily I wasn’t injured but I took that as a sign I should probably stop riding.

After that baby I got on after about 4 weeks and rode intermittently. I had a 4th degree tear and frankly could only ride in 2 point for 6 months.

For My second baby I had moved to the Midwest and had more horses at home, including my old retired horse who I rode all through pregnancy. I stopped riding and jumping the horse I fell off of the first time around 12 or 14 weeks again, whenever I could feel the baby start to emerge out from behind the safety of my pelvis.

But idiot that I am, I got on him a week after I gave birth with my second and he immediately bucked me off which I cannot recommend. You have no core muscles after having a baby. It was the first and only time he got me off since we both fell before. He was so shocked, he was like, “dude, what on earth are you doing down there?” :lol:

My OB was not impressed and had very stern things to say about people that fall off horses right after giving birth. Not sure if there is anything to that or not but it didn’t feel very good for an extremely mild fall. But I kept riding regularly, just longed first until I got my sea legs back. My actual recovery from birth was nearly immediate. So much depends on what kind of birth you have. If you end up with some sort of awful vaccuum extraction with terrible tear like my first, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about taking whatever time you need!!! That HURTS. My second was EASY.

[LisaB]

My spooky horse told me to go take a pregnancy test ;o) He had the perfect opportunity to spook out from under me and didn’t. He’s a good boy when it counts! I stopped riding because of that round ligament thing at 4 1/2 months. I was back in the saddle after about 4 weeks. Crappy barn owner let horse sit for 2 days with a scratched cornea. I called the emergency vet but we couldn’t save the eye. So most of my time was spent taking care of that. Horse didn’t skip a beat once he healed and we were back in action but seemed to be in a much lesser degree. Then we moved west and slowly my horse was telling me he wanted to be retired. So he’s now uncle to a youngster but I haven’t been able to show at all because of horse and move. I got a 3 yo so I wouldn’t feel rushed about getting back into showing. I think once kiddo hits 1st grade, I’ll have more time and hubby will be back in work that I can show. Right now, with life in a huge flux, I just do some ground work and trail riding. I think if I was still in VA and we were dual income, I would have done some small local shows within the year.

[Happyhorse77]

I’m reading these stories to try to to get an idea of what I’m in for, although my situation is a bit different. I found myself not owning or full leasing for the 1st time in 7yrs this winter so I went ahead and got myself pregnant, lol. I had been taking lessons and riding other people’s horses etc. but the day I found out I was pregnant I decided to stop, even though it was SUPER hard :"( Something inside just told me I should stop and lo and behold it turns out I have placenta previa, and am considered “high-risk” w/all the restrictions that entails. Oy. SO very glad that I don’t own/lease right now, as that made listening to my gut(uterus?) much easier. As for getting back on afterwards… Ayyiyiyi. Most likely will have to have a CS d/t the previa… Methinks I have a long journey ahead in many ways, but that will make that 1st event after baby so much sweeter!!!

[vali]

I had a difficult delivery with baby number one but was still back riding 6 weeks later, and back eventing at five months. With baby number two I was back riding 4 weeks after, and eventing at four months. My husband was pretty supportive about holding the baby, and the horses were in the back yard, which helped. I switched to working 25-30 hours a week from 50 plus hours, and that made it much easier. I downgraded to riding training level for several years and didn’t make it back to Prelim until my older daughter was ten.

[RPM]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8563952]
Oh the joys…fortunately my husband came along while I was nursing - we had a camper so it was off to ride, back to nurse, off to ride, back to nurse…

Another memory - I used to ride sidesaddle so at the end when riding astride made it feel as if the baby would just pop out, I wore my husband’s riding breeches and rode side-saddle until about three days before.

I was blessed with such an amazing horse…so kind and tolerant. She even let my older child (22 months) stand under her as she had had a foal at the same time as my new baby - monkey see, monkey do – that is until I saw daughter reaching to nurse the mare…[/QUOTE]

:lol:

Wee Dee Trr, here is the pregnant hunter-jumper riders thread:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?457565-pregnant-riders-support-group-)

[BoysNightOut]

Took me about a month to get back on (was a new mom also!). I did a very small dressage schooling show about 2 months after I had my baby. Taking a month off afterwards was more due to my exhaustion/time with baby than actually my body being ready. I too just ride for fun and show only a handful of times a year. I rode up until I was 7 months along, and then only stopped because trying to groom/tack up in the heat of summer while big was no longer fun, lol.

It all depends on each woman. I’d say let your doctor and your body decide for you. But congrats!

[Wee_Dee_Trrr]

Thanks for all the posts and stories!
I wonder how things will turn out!

[PonyWish]

I am a first time, late in my life (turned 40 the week after I found out I was pregnant.) rider who now finds herself pregnant and hoping I can ride/compete soon after I deliver. DH and I haven’t told our families yet, one more week to go on that. I’m pretty sure my mother is going to freak when she finds out that I’m still riding. But that is the one point I’m not budging on for anyone. I’ll stop when I feel like it’s time, which is not yet. Thankfully DH has been very supportive of that despite this being his first baby too. He’s very excited, I am less so just because I know what kind of changes are coming. And I’m worried about losing the life and person I was pre-baby.

[inquisitive]

Congratulations everyone! I just had my first child 8 weeks ago :yes:

When pregnant, I competed in my last T-level event at 20 weeks, stopped jumping at 24 weeks, and stopped riding at 34 weeks. My horse isn’t the most bombproof and I had really bad round ligament pain. A few people expressed concern (though others questioned why I stopped so early) but I just followed my gut and stopped when I was no longer comfortable physically or emotionally. Just do what you feel is right.

After birth, I had my first ride back at 4 weeks but waited until my 6-week checkup to seriously ride because I wanted to make sure my stitches healed properly (advice from one of my nurses who also rides!). I felt ok before 4 weeks but with the weather and exhaustion and nursing constantly it was tough to find the time and energy. I’m still struggling with that and the fact that I hate leaving her now (coming from someone who never thought she would be a mother)!

I’ve been pumping after one of my morning nursing sessions and leaving a bottle for my husband. After work, I feed her and then leave for the barn. I can fit in a ride while he feeds her the bottle, and then usually make it back in time before the next feeding (though we have frozen in case she decides to cluster). That’s all with me working from home which is easier but in another week I have to start going in to the office. Would love advice from anyone or sample schedules with BF and pumping to fit it all in! Also worried about keeping supply up if I don’t pump while I’m at the barn and miss that one feeding…