cycling while pregnant: jaime of san francisco

{Jaime, at 25 weeks, with her dog Teto. Jaime says: Teto loves to go on bike rides too. He rides in the Timbuk2 Muttmover, a backpack specifically designed to carry dogs. Since he is harnessed into the backpack, here is no danger of him jumping out.}

Name: Jaime

Age: 34

Location: San Francisco

Cycling for how many years: 13

Favorite part about cycling: When I bike, I am a part of my surroundings, a part of the environment. But when I am in a car, I feel more like a disconnected observer.

Bike(s) you ride: Specialized Sirrus for around town and Specialized Roubaix for distance cycling

What three words sum up your cycling experience while being pregnant: slowly by slowly

 How did being pregnant affect your approach to cycling or your daily commute: I rode much slower and with more caution. I also tried to avoid extremely busy streets in favor of less trafficked roads.

What (if anything) surprised you about cycling while pregnant? I kept expecting at some point to find that it would be uncomfortable to bike, especially since my bike is not an upright step through, but I never reached that point. I even biked the day I went into labor, at 41 weeks.

How did your family and friends react to you cycling while pregnant? They thought I was crazy to keep biking, especially as my belly got bigger. However, they couldn’t really raise too many red flags as my midwife fully supported my biking.

What (if any) special accommodations did you require to continue cycling throughout your pregnancy? I didn’t really have to change much; towards the end of my pregnancy I had to stick my knees out a bit more to make room for my belly.

What would you say to another woman interested in cycling while pregnant? What have you taken away from the experience? I would say – “Go for it!” Growing up, people always treated pregnant woman like they were extremely fragile. Pregnant women weren’t supposed to do much, just sit around and be miserable. But that was not my experience, I felt great most of the time. I realized that pregnant women are strong and powerful.

 In addition to cycling, what other activities helped you stay fit and active during your pregnancy? I ran until week 33. Then I switched to walking 5km a couple of times a week until the end of my pregnancy. I also did Bikram yoga until week 38.

{Jaime at 40 weeks, biking to her midwife appointment}