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 Veteran
Posts: 250
 
Location: Central TX | I was wondering how everyone kept up with the daily horse chores while being pregnant and after having the baby. I know this has been discussed before, probably, but it's been a while since I've been on here.
My husband and I recently found out we are expecting TWINS. Of course we are excited, scared but happy. But I get down sometimes whenever the barrel races roll up on the weekend... so another question, how did you deal with not being able to compete for almost a year? How did you get back into the groove after having the baby and hauling to the races? I appreciate any advice you all might have! |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Twins would be harder but congratulations!! I worked and my daycare was an hour from where I live. So I got up in the am, fed what needed fed, broke ice on one tank on the way to work and just did what needed doing. I was exhausted of course, but no way around it. My husband worked away from home most of the week.
When the 1st kiddo was born I could sneak out while his dad watched him and ride for 1/2 hr or so but I worked so much I just didn't have much energy to mess with horses and no help at a barrel race if I wanted to go or had a horse legged up to go. The few times I rode was to keep my sanity.
When he turned 3, I moved my horse to a friends arena closer to my work and left him at daycare a hour or 2 longer and rode every day after work rain or shine. Then when I hauled that same friend helped me watch him.
When he was 4 I had another but decided to stay home with the boys. I did get to ride a lot because I had a friend that would come to my house to practice. The older was old enough he wasn't eating dirt anymore and the baby LOVED horses from the start and was content to sit in the stroller in the shade with a sippy or snacks and watch.
Having someone watch them while you compete is the hardest. I wasn't one of those moms that would just park then in the stands and go warm up and compete. I had to have someone I knew and trusted watch them. So I still stress a lot when I go somewhere.
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2015-02-26 10:15 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | Being 6 months prenant with my 2nd, I have learned to love the 4 wheeler to help with chores. It is actually more of a hassel to use rather than pack things around, but it has saved my back a lot.
With my 1st, I was back riding 4 weeks after ( I did have a c-section and needed to heal). My hubby and I took turns riding and being with her. She was a good napper though, so she would nap in the stroller a lot while we got to ride. She will be 3 when this baby is born and is pretty good about entertaining herself, so that will help once he is here. We are lucky to have our horses at home and able to ride there, so one of us can stay in the house if needed. We don't have any family here and only a few close friends, so we have to support each and make sure we each get our turns riding. The hard part with him is I pull around the roping dummy for him which takes both of our time. Whereas I can ride and work my horses by myself while he gets other things done.
Just remember that the horses will always be there and you only have a baby for a short time before they are all grown up. Enjoy your horses when you can, but don't put your kids on the backburner for them. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | First of all...Congratulations! I had twins in May last year. You need to understand that twin pregnancies are much different than singles. There are lots of people that will tell you that it's just the same with an extra baby, but it is not. I've had two single pregnancies. My twins were doing great and I hadn't even had any morning sickness...I was working every day and absolutely exhausted at lunch time, so I started taking naps in my office instead of going somewhere to eat. I kept peanut butter and crackers and fruit available for snacks.
Then when I was 19 weeks along I was put on bed rest due to an issue with my baby boy's placenta. I won't go into details, but I spent the next four months scared and unable to help clean my house, do any chores, or even go to the barn for more than a few minutes. I ended up in the hospital at 30 weeks and stayed until they decided that the babies needed to be born at 34 weeks. They were healthy and had minimal issues, but still had to stay in the NICU for a month.
Barrel racing and riding horses will be the last thing that you want to think when you have new born twins at home...They are amazing little monsters and more fun than I would have ever imagined..I made some runs last year when I thought I was wanting to get started back, but the time in bed had wrecked my muscle tone, and I'm not a great participant. I won't be running again until I can be competitive and feel like I can do my horse some justice, but I haven't missed it a bit!
Chasing after them has been a great diet though, lol. I lost all of the baby weight before they were 9 months old and have lost a little more since then.
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Veteran
Posts: 250
Location: Central TX | They are adorable!
I've been warned that since being twins, of course it's a higher risk pregnancy and to be careful. Which I have. I thankfully haven't had any I'll effects other than no energy and sleeping so much it's unreal. I'm currently 9 weeks and keep trying to stay positive. My last time competing was at 6 weeks and I've rode about twice since then (walking and trotting) to keep my sanity. I know bed rest is inevitable for me later on and I keep trying to figure out the best thing for my horse. He's so dang quirky and picky that he won't just match up with anyone if I were to sell, and If I sell him, I'll be a mess. Everyone has told me I'd be "not right" if I sold him because him and I are perfect together.
I know I'll be tired and exhausted from chasing them but barrel racing is what I love and can't stay away from. I will find a way to have help and still run next year. Thank you all for the advice and tips and anything else!!!! It's appreciated to keep my staying positive. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I have recently found out I'm expecting as well. Along with 3 friends who are already having showers and things for theirs. One has since sold her good horse to another friend and the other two are leasing their mounts out for a year to good friends to haul as backups.
I am using a Midwife so I don't have a sono yet to know if it is a girl or boy or both lol. I can't imagine twins! Congrats!!
I am almost 19 weeks and I stay exhausted as I work 50-60 hours a week. I get up about 30 minutes earlier just so I can feed and break ice and things. My SO feeds for me when he gets home because he doesn't want me picking up anything heavy. LOL which means I better not tell him I feed in the mornings! Anyway, my Midwife told me that when she was pregnant she would make three or four trips with feed for just one horse to keep the weight down that she carried. It's also great excersise.
And if you have other children they love helping as well with chores. At least my SO's do. They can carry small amounts of feed to the horses for me to help me out and they love feeding the chickens and goats and pigs as well. They are still little so they enjoy helping out around the farm. Every chicken has a different name each day, but by golly they're fed and eggs are collected! 
ETA: I plan on using a baby wrap after the baby is born to carry he/she with me around to do chores. I haven't figured out barrel races yet, but I'm sure me and my friends who are also expecting can manage to trade off entertaining them on the sidelines. SO usually hangs out with his girls at the house riding the dirtbikes while I go, but I doubt he would like to watch a baby baby inside all day. He may go crazy !
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2015-02-26 11:17 AM
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | KDHoof88 - 2015-02-26 10:54 AM They are adorable! I've been warned that since being twins, of course it's a higher risk pregnancy and to be careful. Which I have. I thankfully haven't had any I'll effects other than no energy and sleeping so much it's unreal. I'm currently 9 weeks and keep trying to stay positive. My last time competing was at 6 weeks and I've rode about twice since then (walking and trotting) to keep my sanity. I know bed rest is inevitable for me later on and I keep trying to figure out the best thing for my horse. He's so dang quirky and picky that he won't just match up with anyone if I were to sell, and If I sell him, I'll be a mess. Everyone has told me I'd be "not right" if I sold him because him and I are perfect together. I know I'll be tired and exhausted from chasing them but barrel racing is what I love and can't stay away from. I will find a way to have help and still run next year. Thank you all for the advice and tips and anything else!!!! It's appreciated to keep my staying positive.
Thank you :-) You aren't doomed to bed rest by any means. I'm glad that I made the choice not to ride at all while I was pregnant with them. With the placenta problem that we had it could have been catastrophic. A friend of mine and his wife had triplets. She had three other children and worked up until 36 weeks! Just pay attention to your energy level and make sure that anything you eat is feeding your body. Twin pregnancy is so much harder on your body nutritionally. My eyelashes even got thinner! lol.
Your horse will be happy as long as he's cared for and get a little attention. Let him hang out until you're ready to get back on. It may do him some good if he has any lingering inflammation to get a good rest. Mine were all wonderful when I got back on them, even the colts that got a whole year off. It was the very best thing for a couple of them.
While I was on bedrest my husband was an absolute angel... He made sure that I had something healthy to eat for every meal and snacks when he would be gone from the house. He even closed the gates to the property and turned my mare out in the yard so that I could see her from my window. |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | rachellyn80 - 2015-02-26 11:27 AM KDHoof88 - 2015-02-26 10:54 AM They are adorable! I've been warned that since being twins, of course it's a higher risk pregnancy and to be careful. Which I have. I thankfully haven't had any I'll effects other than no energy and sleeping so much it's unreal. I'm currently 9 weeks and keep trying to stay positive. My last time competing was at 6 weeks and I've rode about twice since then (walking and trotting) to keep my sanity. I know bed rest is inevitable for me later on and I keep trying to figure out the best thing for my horse. He's so dang quirky and picky that he won't just match up with anyone if I were to sell, and If I sell him, I'll be a mess. Everyone has told me I'd be "not right" if I sold him because him and I are perfect together. I know I'll be tired and exhausted from chasing them but barrel racing is what I love and can't stay away from. I will find a way to have help and still run next year. Thank you all for the advice and tips and anything else!!!! It's appreciated to keep my staying positive. Thank you :-) You aren't doomed to bed rest by any means. I'm glad that I made the choice not to ride at all while I was pregnant with them. With the placenta problem that we had it could have been catastrophic. A friend of mine and his wife had triplets. She had three other children and worked up until 36 weeks! Just pay attention to your energy level and make sure that anything you eat is feeding your body. Twin pregnancy is so much harder on your body nutritionally. My eyelashes even got thinner! lol.
Your horse will be happy as long as he's cared for and get a little attention. Let him hang out until you're ready to get back on. It may do him some good if he has any lingering inflammation to get a good rest. Mine were all wonderful when I got back on them, even the colts that got a whole year off. It was the very best thing for a couple of them.
While I was on bedrest my husband was an absolute angel... He made sure that I had something healthy to eat for every meal and snacks when he would be gone from the house. He even closed the gates to the property and turned my mare out in the yard so that I could see her from my window.
AWE! How sweet is he!? You have a great Husband!! Kudos to him! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 412
Location: In Husker Land | With my first I rode until I was about 8 weeks but stopped after that
I think I went to my first barrel race in April and our daughter was born in January, but we were also calving during most of those other months. I am now currently pregnant, about 14 weeks along. I am helping with calving, but not lifting the heavy cow calves or putting myself in harms way.. I have been very nauceous and sick to my stomach, but seems to help if I am outside doing something to keep my mind off of it. Baby is due in August and I am hoping a couple months after to maybe start riding again.. but enjoy your time with the kiddos while you can! Twins are work but they are fun! My hubby's cousin has had two sets...all natural too! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 340
| Y'all talk about having an issue finding someone to watch the kids at a race... I used to have an arrangement with a lady at a local race (I was a teenager at the time), where she would pre-enter and run early and I would watch the twin boys, then after she ran, I was still able to run. You could pay for part of the teens entry, etc. I bet there's tons of respectable girls, ready to baby sit at barrel races. It was an awesome deal for me and her! |
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 Peecans
| I have three kids that age from 7 to 10 months. This summer will be the first time ive competed in 3 years.
I stayed with it with my first, she was great loved going all over the place, minivan watcher her whiel i ran and i had her when he roped it was great family times!
I was expecting my second at my last rodeo, i then sold that horse as i had a couple young ones coming along nicely. The stud died and the guy riding the gelding offered to buy him and I said yes.
I finaly have a horse cruising through and im going I dont care if im last place I AM GOING!!
I will say dont be surprised if your confidence takes a dive, I really struggle with that i think its a combination of you have precious babies to care for and love and my core is completely ruined. Its diffently not the same body and strength getting back on thar steep off. But it does come back, I just mentioned that because it really shocked me and I felt really lost and alone with it, its completly normal and does get better.
I do alot of core strengthing exersizes, its coming but its been really slow. Now to acatualy find time to ride my horse is really hard some days. Its very rare my husband is able to give me time during daylight.
So this is what i do.
I put the kids in the truck, they hold my horse whiel i tack, We then drive to a spot in the field. The horse gets led out the window. I then ride around the truck, then we go back to the yard.
I do this during the baby's nap time, so she sleeps the oldest is in school the toddler plays, colors, talks to me out the window plays games ext I have lots for her to do in the truck. Im never out of talking distance. On the weekend the oldist comes too. Im not sure how acatualy going to a race is going to work yet, I'll figure it out soon enfough i guess! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| my twin girls are 14 months old and i am just now thinking i'm ready to get back into it all. my barn has gotten run down, my current horses have gotten run down, but my babies are happy and healthy. i'm ready to start taking some time for momma to do what she loves again! they time off will suck but you will look back and realize it was SO worth it. twins are a lot of work but just brush that off when people tell you that... they are a lot more fun than they are work. you'll find a balance that works for you. pm me if you need someone to talk to :) i love talking about my kids and to expecting twin mommas  |
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Veteran
Posts: 250
Location: Central TX | PHEW! You all have given me courage to know that I can do this! I thank everyone so much for the confidence boost. I know it will be hard but I have some good family surrounding me that are too anxious for the babies to get here that they would take them off my hands in a heart beat. That really helps knowing that.
Some how, some way, I'll continue to barrel race on the weekends once they are here. Once they are older they will be warming up the horses! :) |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I had two very complicated pregnancies with multiple hospitalizations, complete bed rest at points, I was a mess. My horses survived because of my husband and my friends. We moved them to a boarding stable - where the lady only charged me HALF of what normal board was - and my friends who board there normally rotated cleaning stalls, going and picking up feed, etc. My husband was with me 99% of the hospitalization time, so I am VERY blessed to have friends like these.
I had two cesareans so afterwards I was pretty sore for a few weeks. I was back to doing chores and reclaiming my horses by about eight weeks.
Congratulations on your twins! I have a friend who is 35 weeks with twins and she CANNOT WAIT to have them.lol. You can do this mama! I will be praying for you and your hubby and your babies!!! |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | della - 2015-02-26 3:07 PM
I have three kids that age from 7 to 10 months. This summer will be the first time ive competed in 3 years.
I stayed with it with my first, she was great loved going all over the place, minivan watcher her whiel i ran and i had her when he roped it was great family times!
I was expecting my second at my last rodeo, i then sold that horse as i had a couple young ones coming along nicely. The stud died and the guy riding the gelding offered to buy him and I said yes.
I finaly have a horse cruising through and im going I dont care if im last place I AM GOING!!
I will say dont be surprised if your confidence takes a dive, I really struggle with that i think its a combination of you have precious babies to care for and love and my core is completely ruined. Its diffently not the same body and strength getting back on thar steep off. But it does come back, I just mentioned that because it really shocked me and I felt really lost and alone with it, its completly normal and does get better.
I do alot of core strengthing exersizes, its coming but its been really slow. Now to acatualy find time to ride my horse is really hard some days. Its very rare my husband is able to give me time during daylight.
So this is what i do.
I put the kids in the truck, they hold my horse whiel i tack, We then drive to a spot in the field. The horse gets led out the window. I then ride around the truck, then we go back to the yard.
I do this during the baby's nap time, so she sleeps the oldest is in school the toddler plays, colors, talks to me out the window plays games ext I have lots for her to do in the truck. Im never out of talking distance. On the weekend the oldist comes too. Im not sure how acatualy going to a race is going to work yet, I'll figure it out soon enfough i guess!
So true about the confidence dive! I used to be willing to crawl onto anything.... now.... even my nice horse intimidates me sometimes. Luckily for me, he's also a puppy dog and does not take advantage of my whimpness. I am going to start looking for a helmet, since ya know - now it matters whether or not I fall and break my head. Two little guys depend on me to be here. |
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Location: Texas | My husband was a huge help, he took care of my horses after our boys were born, kepted the horses legged up once I couldn't ride and did all the barn chores and little things in between. Luckily I wasn't ever put on bed rest, I was putting horses on the walker the morning I had my first son and working the chute the night before my second son was born. I was back around the horses and doing barn chores 2 weeks after I had both of them. Our boys were practically raised in the barn and had been to team roping and ranch rodeos before they were a month old.
The best advice I can give, get them on a schedule (from day one) and stick to it! You would be surprised how much easier it will make raising twins. A few of the doctors I work with, who have twins, suggested I read the book their wives read and its great! It will definitely make you feel more confident about bringing the little ones home! :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1161
| I to am expecting twins a girl and a boy. I'm 27 weeks and counting down the days... I am still going out to the barn twice a day to feed and clean out stalls which is keeping me going and is where I feel the best hopefully I can just keep doing what I'm doing but defanatly being way more careful. I am going to have help this spring summer so I am looking forward to riding when I am able. Somehow I plan to do my gardening, my daughters softball, and the horses. Just remember a happy mom equals a happy baby too. Good luck |
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