cycling while pregnant: bojana of ottawa, canada

{Bojana, taking her kids to daycare during her second trimester}

Name: Bojana

Age: 34

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Cycling for how many years:
Since I was very young.

Favorite part about cycling:
I am able to steal back the precious time I would otherwise be spending in the car.

Bike(s) you ride:

Kona Africa as mamachari (child transport) and short distance bike

Rocky Mountain Metro as recreational and medium distance bike

What three words sum up your cycling experience while being pregnant:
Slow and steady

How did being pregnant affect your approach to cycling or your daily commute:
With my first pregnancy I quit cycling for the season before I even knew I was pregnant because of fatigue and inability to cycle “all out” the way I did before getting pregnant. For the second two pregnancies I knew what to expect and I was able to bike through to the end (or at least until the road salt hit).

What (if anything) surprised you about cycling while pregnant?
How much I depended on it for my physical and mental well being. My bike wheel was broken for a week and it drove me crazy.

How did your family and friends react to you cycling while pregnant?
The family was for most part supportive though some did worry about me falling. Friends and acquaintances were likewise split, though everyone was polite even if they were concerned. Some people were very excited to see me bike with two kids and then they would notice that I was pregnant.

What (if any) special accommodations did you require to continue cycling throughout your pregnancy?
Most of my cycling involved me taking the kids to daycare or shopping so in addition to being pregnant I had two kids on the bike with me. I would not have been able to do this if I did not have appropriate bike (step through, small wheels, very slow and steady). I was also very careful about the routes I took and did a lot of planning ahead of going out. During the last few weeks leading up to my due date I would bike with only one kid at the time and no kids once I was a week away.

What would you say to another woman interested in cycling while pregnant? What have you taken away from the experience?
I am no good at giving advice, but if I had to do it I would say to give it a try but not to get discouraged if it does not work out. The time goes by so fast after the baby is born, in a flash you will be ready to start biking again, possibly with your kid.

In addition to cycling, what other activities helped you stay fit and active during your pregnancy?
I took indoor spinning classes. My instructor was a bit nervous about my going into labour during class once I was close and past my due date, but everything went well.

{Bojana, cycling while pregnant on vacation in London}

Thanks so much, Bojana, we loved hearing from you! What an inspiring mama of three! To see more profiles by other mamas who continued to cycle through their pregnancy, check out the Fit Pregnancy page! How did you stay fit while expecting? We’d love to hear from you! simplybike {at} gmail {dot} com