Very informative and useful! I'll probably forward this on to my fiance, whose scared sh#$less of how pregnancy will slow down her activity level (runs marathons and follows me on epic hike/bike/bc ski trips). The book recommendation will be useful as well. Thanks...and Good Luck!
Thanks for your comment Vertigo soul. I was very nervous about slowing down too, and I have to the extent we aren't doing really high risk hikes (Little Bear Blanca Traverse for example). Physically it sure feels like I've slowed down, but our car to car times aren't too bad (yet). Just a tad slower. I think each day just feels harder/slower to me because I'm working so much harder now for the same level of accomplishment. I feel chronically out of shape :-) According to Clapp's book, many women runners actually feel stronger during the 2nd trimester because the physiological changes coupled with exercise make the women more efficient (e.g., oxygen use, vascularization, etc). I have yet to experience that though. Perhaps climbing at altitude impinges on that. In fact, the greatest benefit comes ~6 months after delivery when the body is still at it's peak, but with no additional life to support. I hope this article puts her at ease a bit. It's all been really fun and our baby has summited around a dozen peaks and has over 10 bc ski days already! Another question is how much we'll have to slow down once the baby comes.
The real key is to have a supportive partner. My worries diminished knowing that we were still going to be climbing/hiking/skiing partners and that all that didn't have to come to an end just because I was pregnant. I'm super lucky to have a partner like Scott.
Thanks TJ311! I hope this article will not only serve as a reference for women and couples tackling similar issues, but also as a stimulus for further dialogue and a repository for other experiences.
Hi Joe, Congratulations to you & your wife on your bun and staying active! Please feel free to share your experiences here as well. Good luck on your journey!
Having summited a few fourteeners before even being born is hard to beat. And I thought that Day Hiker Jr had gotten off to an early start!
I'm really glad to see that pregnancy hasn't ended your adventures in the mountains, and that you have such a supportive partner. It is possible to remain active up until the end of your pregnancy. My ex-girlfriend got pregnant almost as soon as she got hitched, and although she wasn't climbing mountains, she kept working practically up to the day when her water broke.
Thanks CheesySciFi. So far, so good! I hope I will be able to stay active until the end. The benefits of doing so are supposed to be really worth while (according to Clapp's book).
We were hiking a lot before pregnancy and then being afraid of losing too much weight or miscarrying I completely stopped for the first trimester.
This weekend finally went and did 3000 or so gain after not doing much at all -- felt so alive. I don't have your guts to push the limits as much while pregnant but am hoping to keep at least hiking class 1 or 2 till the end over the weekends.
Have you experienced any problems with the balance as your weight shifts? It seems that you are handling scree slope downhills and class 3/4 fine which is very impressive.
Hi spunkyAdventurer! Thanks for your comment and congratulations! How far along are you? Because so many women report problems with balance, I keep waiting for balance issues to crop up. However, I have not experienced any problems with balance thus far. That is not to say my center of gravity hasn't changed, because it most certainly has, but staying active has allowed me to adjust along with the changes in my body. I am also much more deliberate with my footing and move more slowly through challenging terrain. In addition, I have not gained a lot of excess weight and still feel pretty compact, so I'm sure this helps. I think what is important is to listen to what your body tells you, and do things you feel comfortable with. What works for one person, may not work well for another. Good luck and keep us posted!
Redwic - Jul 27, 2009 2:36 pm - Voted 10/10
This is awesome...Very original, from at least a SummitPost standpoint. Thanks for sharing!!!
Nice Axe! - Aug 2, 2009 11:34 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: This is awesome...Hey Redwic, thanks for the positive feedback!
scotthsu - Aug 3, 2009 9:13 am - Voted 10/10
So far so good!I'm fortunate to have such a willing and capable partner even though she is now 4.5 months pregnant!
Vertigo soul - Aug 3, 2009 4:21 pm - Hasn't voted
Great write up and topic!Very informative and useful! I'll probably forward this on to my fiance, whose scared sh#$less of how pregnancy will slow down her activity level (runs marathons and follows me on epic hike/bike/bc ski trips). The book recommendation will be useful as well. Thanks...and Good Luck!
Nice Axe! - Aug 4, 2009 10:14 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great write up and topic!Thanks for your comment Vertigo soul. I was very nervous about slowing down too, and I have to the extent we aren't doing really high risk hikes (Little Bear Blanca Traverse for example). Physically it sure feels like I've slowed down, but our car to car times aren't too bad (yet). Just a tad slower. I think each day just feels harder/slower to me because I'm working so much harder now for the same level of accomplishment. I feel chronically out of shape :-) According to Clapp's book, many women runners actually feel stronger during the 2nd trimester because the physiological changes coupled with exercise make the women more efficient (e.g., oxygen use, vascularization, etc). I have yet to experience that though. Perhaps climbing at altitude impinges on that. In fact, the greatest benefit comes ~6 months after delivery when the body is still at it's peak, but with no additional life to support. I hope this article puts her at ease a bit. It's all been really fun and our baby has summited around a dozen peaks and has over 10 bc ski days already! Another question is how much we'll have to slow down once the baby comes.
The real key is to have a supportive partner. My worries diminished knowing that we were still going to be climbing/hiking/skiing partners and that all that didn't have to come to an end just because I was pregnant. I'm super lucky to have a partner like Scott.
dfrancom - Aug 6, 2009 10:26 am - Voted 10/10
GREAT READ!Such a cool story of ambition and balance!
scotthsu - Aug 7, 2009 9:53 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: GREAT READ!Thanks for your comment! The balance part is especially difficult :-)
Nice Axe! - Aug 8, 2009 1:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: GREAT READ!Hi dfrancom, I really appreciate your comment. Thanks!
TJ311 - Aug 6, 2009 6:03 pm - Voted 10/10
Interesting Read!Great article! I bet there are many ladies that will find this info very useful! Congrats to you both!
scotthsu - Aug 7, 2009 8:37 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Interesting Read!Thanks for your congratulations!
Nice Axe! - Aug 8, 2009 1:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Interesting Read!Thanks TJ311! I hope this article will not only serve as a reference for women and couples tackling similar issues, but also as a stimulus for further dialogue and a repository for other experiences.
Joe White - Aug 7, 2009 9:15 pm - Voted 10/10
lovin' thisarticle! My wife is 20 weeks pregnant...and still quite active...cool to know others are on a similar journey...
cheers!
scotthsu - Aug 7, 2009 9:29 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: lovin' thisawesome! congrats to you guys, and happy climbing!
Nice Axe! - Aug 8, 2009 12:49 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: lovin' thisHi Joe, Congratulations to you & your wife on your bun and staying active! Please feel free to share your experiences here as well. Good luck on your journey!
Joe White - Aug 9, 2009 6:22 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: lovin' thisstill waitin for that 20 weeks report!
Nice Axe! - Aug 9, 2009 8:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: lovin' this:-) voila!
CheesySciFi - Aug 13, 2009 10:29 pm - Voted 10/10
Very impressiveHaving summited a few fourteeners before even being born is hard to beat. And I thought that Day Hiker Jr had gotten off to an early start!
I'm really glad to see that pregnancy hasn't ended your adventures in the mountains, and that you have such a supportive partner. It is possible to remain active up until the end of your pregnancy. My ex-girlfriend got pregnant almost as soon as she got hitched, and although she wasn't climbing mountains, she kept working practically up to the day when her water broke.
Nice Axe! - Aug 14, 2009 1:06 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Very impressiveThanks CheesySciFi. So far, so good! I hope I will be able to stay active until the end. The benefits of doing so are supposed to be really worth while (according to Clapp's book).
spunkyAdventurer - Oct 26, 2009 5:58 pm - Voted 10/10
Neat!We were hiking a lot before pregnancy and then being afraid of losing too much weight or miscarrying I completely stopped for the first trimester.
This weekend finally went and did 3000 or so gain after not doing much at all -- felt so alive. I don't have your guts to push the limits as much while pregnant but am hoping to keep at least hiking class 1 or 2 till the end over the weekends.
Have you experienced any problems with the balance as your weight shifts? It seems that you are handling scree slope downhills and class 3/4 fine which is very impressive.
Nice Axe! - Oct 31, 2009 11:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Neat!Hi spunkyAdventurer! Thanks for your comment and congratulations! How far along are you? Because so many women report problems with balance, I keep waiting for balance issues to crop up. However, I have not experienced any problems with balance thus far. That is not to say my center of gravity hasn't changed, because it most certainly has, but staying active has allowed me to adjust along with the changes in my body. I am also much more deliberate with my footing and move more slowly through challenging terrain. In addition, I have not gained a lot of excess weight and still feel pretty compact, so I'm sure this helps. I think what is important is to listen to what your body tells you, and do things you feel comfortable with. What works for one person, may not work well for another. Good luck and keep us posted!