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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
 
| How soon were you riding after having a baby? Both natural birth and a c-section? I may have to have a c-section. I'm trying to plan what barrel races I can enter after baby is born. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | I started riding at 5 weeks after my c-section but I did not race until a month after I started riding. I had alot of balance issues and did fall off at my first race back. I started racing too soon due to the balance issues. Just listen to your body. CONGRATS too :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| Natural, no complications. 2 weeks back riding, 3 competing.
Everyone is different, I wouldn't commit to anything, but I understand your desire to get back as soon as possible! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
 
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I had my baby at home with no medication. I rode bareback every other day or so after 2 weeks. But I didn't really start back to practice for a good while. (I wanted to snuggle her all day instead...  ) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
| SpaceCowboy - 2016-10-24 2:14 PM
Natural, no complications. 2 weeks back riding, 3 competing.
Everyone is different, I wouldn't commit to anything, but I understand your desire to get back as soon as possible!
This is what I as hoping for! Pregnancy is really easy on me so hopefully i can get right back to it. Killing me not to go! |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Riding at a week and competing at a month after first baby delivered with no complications. After second baby attempted to ride at a little over a week but felt uncomfortable so waited until around 2 weeks. I think I was entering about 6 weeks after delivery. Third baby was an unplanned c-section. I rode for the first time at almost 6 weeks, but didn't have a finished horse and still haven't made a real run!
Listen to your body and your doctor. When you're planning what to enter, if possible just plan on late entering. That way you won't feel obligated to push yourself if you need more time to recover. |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | 8-10 hours post birth for me.
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| natural, no complications and rode 10 days after, competed a little over 2 weeks after. I was fortunate that my horse was being borrowed, so I could come back to a horse in shape. It was probably a little early to get on, but I needed horse therapy to feel "normal" again. I am currently 3 months out, and still feel like my timing suffers, but I also have 40lbs of baby weight to lose  I think thats where my balance issues come from.
If you have a c-section, I would most definitely wait the recommended 6 weeks. My sister just recently had one and she did not get around good for quite awhile after. Of course everyone is different though.
ETA: Making competition runs is going to depend on your horse, too. One of mine I feel 100% confident on, the other I have almost fallen off twice LOL.
Edited by WrapN3MN 2016-10-24 3:16 PM
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | I had a C-section and wasn't able to ride until about 3 months afterward due to being in the military and my horses being 1200 miles away. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Here's some advice from an old lady.....I am 64 and have bad problems with my hips, which cause problems with my knees and everything else further down. I rode at 2 weeks after my baby and that is why I have problems now. Your body releases a hormone that loosens up the joints so that your pelvis can stretch to deliver the baby. I had mine C-section, but I still had the hormones that loosened my joints. Those joints don't go back to normal until about 6 weeks. If I'd listened to my doctor and waited 6 weeks, I wouldn't have these problems now. If I had it to do all over again, I would have waited the full 6 weeks. So, you can do what you want, but my advice would be to wait 6 weeks, and then start back riding. It's not that much longer. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
| dianeguinn - 2016-10-25 12:19 PM
Here's some advice from an old lady.....I am 64 and have bad problems with my hips, which cause problems with my knees and everything else further down. I rode at 2 weeks after my baby and that is why I have problems now. Your body releases a hormone that loosens up the joints so that your pelvis can stretch to deliver the baby. I had mine C-section, but I still had the hormones that loosened my joints. Those joints don't go back to normal until about 6 weeks. If I'd listened to my doctor and waited 6 weeks, I wouldn't have these problems now. If I had it to do all over again, I would have waited the full 6 weeks. So, you can do what you want, but my advice would be to wait 6 weeks, and then start back riding. It's not that much longer.
Thanks for this info! I didnt even think about this, does make sense. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I'm so glad someone asked this!!! I'm almost 30 weeks and can literally feel bridle reins in my hand! LOL! I got off at 5 months due to some back issues and severe migraines, and I have NEVER been off of a horse this long. I know my precious little man will be worth it, but I'm sure ready to feel "normal" again. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I'm 6 weeks post c-section and have been released to ride. I'm in no rush to get back on. My body is telling me it needs a little more time. |
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 I Want a "MAN"
Posts: 3610
Location: MD | Take time to bond with your baby. Go brush or lunge your horse but the time you have with the baby is so short dont rush anything. |
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Veteran
Posts: 186
Location: Good ole SE Mo | I'm due Thanksgiving day with my first!!!! Can't wait, so excited! lol I quit running in June and ended up not riding at all beginning of July due to hubby cutting off his thumb while roping, I had planned to warm his horses up and such during the summer. So I have been off for a while but longest ever for me. I am going to enter the BBR finals in April and will need to go to a couple close ones before to get back in the grove. My poor horses are going to be just as out of shape as I am! Also Hubby has now decided to go rope at the Patriot in Feb and I will need to get his horse in shape so he can start practicing and getting his groove back as well. Anywho I am a "fair weather" rider and being in Southeast Mo it does get cold and wet here in the winter. But I am going to have to just bundle up and get to riding around the pasture! I am planning on starting around January. I do want to send the 3 I have to start riding to someone for a week or two just to knock the fresh off. I trust them here at the house and all that but now I have someone else that I am responsible for and don't need to get hurt. So I will be letting someone else do that if they decide to be turds! One of my horses can buck hard and kinda dirty and I don't want to deal with it haha
Anyways long story short... I have no idea for the answers to your questions! But I will also keep in mind Diane's advice too and wait until my body heals more. Plus that gives me a little more time to get rid of this extra 40+ pounds of belly!
GOOD LUCK!! |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | dianeguinn - 2016-10-25 12:19 PM
Here's some advice from an old lady.....I am 64 and have bad problems with my hips, which cause problems with my knees and everything else further down. I rode at 2 weeks after my baby and that is why I have problems now. Your body releases a hormone that loosens up the joints so that your pelvis can stretch to deliver the baby. I had mine C-section, but I still had the hormones that loosened my joints. Those joints don't go back to normal until about 6 weeks. If I'd listened to my doctor and waited 6 weeks, I wouldn't have these problems now. If I had it to do all over again, I would have waited the full 6 weeks. So, you can do what you want, but my advice would be to wait 6 weeks, and then start back riding. It's not that much longer.
Yes I haven't had kids, but this is why my sister in law waited to ride. And she was one who rode a long time pregnant. Dont put pressure on yourself to be back a certain time. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I was back riding a little after a week, slow and easy to get my muscles to working again.. |
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| 6 weeks after natural birth |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| roperqueen - 2016-10-26 8:18 AM
Anywho I am a "fair weather" rider and being in Southeast Mo it does get cold and wet here in the winter. But I am going to have to just bundle up and get to riding around the pasture! I am planning on starting around January.
HA! You don't know what cold is, LOL. There is a damp cold but it's not really cold until the ground is frozen a couple of feet down. 
Congrats to all the baby makers out there. I have never had one but been around lots and did have a surgery on my lower abdomen. If you have a C section, wait, and bond with your new baby. Not only is there healing from the surgery but the anesthetic can play havoc with your brain and reaction time. You may be SO overcome with mommy-hormones that barrel racing is something far, far away and not nearly as important as you think now.
As for natural birth, those joint loosening hormones are a fact. It's going to depend on time, how hard you work to get back in shape and how your body responds to it all. So give that time too.
Then there is the support system. Have a friend that was shocked at how difficult it was to even find time to ride let alone go to a barrel race after she had her son. I tried to warn her...
Now enjoy them babies!
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Really riding after 6 weeks but riding around leisurely around 4 ish. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | I had a baby 8 wks ago, haven't gotton on yet. I had him naturally, honestly think I felt good enough just a few days after too get on, but was told not to push it. Sadly still haven't been able to put in a good ride mainly bc of time, harvest has kept my husband a way and so I have gotten the joy and time to bond with my son. Take advantage of this time, you don't get these days back, my horses will be there in another month, and think their really enjoying all the time off. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I had our little boy 12 weeks ago yesterday and still haven't got back on. I'm just now feeling like I want to but I did have some complications so that is part of it.
Good luck and like everyone else said do what is best for you!
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 Gotta Have a Gray
Posts: 899
Location: Tex. Panhandle | 3rd c-section (and last) 3 months ago. I was back riding after 5 weeks. My husband's rule is as soon i can saddle my horses, 1 being over 16 h, that i can ride. If your stomach muscles are not stong enough to hold/carry your saddle then actually saddling a horse is problematic.
Now, it took me a good 2-3 weeks to get my balance back. I did nothing but ride for sev weeks. I felt floppy in the saddle due to being unbalanced.
Went to my first race last weekend in over 10 months just to do expos and wanting was well worth it. Everyone worked great (including myself) |
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Veteran
Posts: 186
Location: Good ole SE Mo | rodeoveteran - 2016-10-26 4:49 PM
roperqueen - 2016-10-26 8:18 AM
Anywho I am a "fair weather" rider and being in Southeast Mo it does get cold and wet here in the winter. But I am going to have to just bundle up and get to riding around the pasture! I am planning on starting around January.
HA! You don't know what cold is, LOL. There is a damp cold but it's not really cold until the ground is frozen a couple of feet down.
Congrats to all the baby makers out there. I have never had one but been around lots and did have a surgery on my lower abdomen. If you have a C section, wait, and bond with your new baby. Not only is there healing from the surgery but the anesthetic can play havoc with your brain and reaction time. You may be SO overcome with mommy-hormones that barrel racing is something far, far away and not nearly as important as you think now.
As for natural birth, those joint loosening hormones are a fact. It's going to depend on time, how hard you work to get back in shape and how your body responds to it all. So give that time too.
Then there is the support system. Have a friend that was shocked at how difficult it was to even find time to ride let alone go to a barrel race after she had her son. I tried to warn her...
Now enjoy them babies!
I know but it's cold to me!!! hahahaha I did hear a rumor that this winter should be average for us and all that good stuff. So not too far below freezing!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | I had a natural birth with no complications but I did tear "down there" a few inches. My husband recommended that I wait until my 6 week check-up and I'm glad I waited. I eventually got back on around 8 weeks and went for a calm walking trail ride and I was so sore down there, but it was worth it lol. Started riding again somewhere regularly after that but didn't move my way back up to long trotting and loping for about a month. It all depends on you but I do think that you should wait for the doctors OK at your 6 week check-up, just in case. I'm due with my second child at the end of February and for us that's smack dab in the middle of our winter (still high 80s here in Southern CO!) so I'm sure I'll be waiting more on the snow and the cold air to go away before I can even think about riding outside lol. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | Csection plus preeclampsia. First I had to walk again because they kept me in bed for 2 days after delivery administering magnesium to prevent seizures and then I had to let that wear off. It is amazing how swollen you can get. So I shuffled down the hall. I couldn't believe myself. I literally was working outside in the woods measuring trees (Forester) just the week before. Climbing hill, walking everywhere and very active. Then- could barely walk. So at day 5 after having baby we went home with me shuffling away. (To anyone having a baby let me just say start cooking now especially if it is your first. Fill your freezer with anything and everything already cooked! Plus hire a housekeeper for a month. I am literally kicking myself over this, but I also didn't expect to be induced and have the baby early either). I waited until 8 weeks to get on. I was released at 6, but just couldn't make time until 8 weeks as I was taking a college night course and had final exams. My head was still foggy from lack of sleep. Somebody mentioned the medicines affecting you afterwards and I honestly believe something was affecting me. I was on BP meds for a month. So I got back on my steady slower horses. Hauled to the arena and rode. GREAT stress relief. I was so happy to lope around I almost cried. The hardest part on me was getting on my horses. I needed a chair because my lower abdomen muscles were so weak. They really play a large part in you lifting your leg into the air. The second time I rode wasn't as bad. My balance sucked to put it politely. I felt like a beginner rider flopping everywhere. I worked my way up through my level of horses and quickness. 11.75 months later I feel a lot more confident. My young horses are running better than ever and I have "beat" myself all years and climbed into a new D. I still don't feel confident to get on a potential bucker so I sold the colt that had that possibility. I guess I lost my confidence in that area and can't imagine getting hurt now because who would take care of my baby? He needs me. So I now wear a helmet too. No entry fee is worth you or your horse getting hurt. Remember that.
Handy things- spare playpen for outside. I was able to feed my horses by putting him in his stroller and taking him out to the barn briefly. Put a portable swing in the horse trailer and an extra extension cord and fan if you are traveling in the summer to hot arenas. If you have a LQ just go ahead and get a generator to crank it up and keep that baby cool/warm. Your babysitter will appreciate the temperature control too. Extra bottles/formula/water/clothes for the trailer. Plus ask your friends if they mind watching your baby for 20 minutes or so at the event in advance. Just enough time for you to warm up, run, cool down and keep your sanity for another week until you get your next fix.
Sorry for the book, but I just/am still going through it. 25 more pounds to lose and between the horses, baby, kickboxing and MMA class I will get it gone eventually. Good luck!
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Riding after baby?