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 Expert
Posts: 2128
  
| Ladies,
I am needing some honest advice here. The hubby and I are expecting our first little one. I am not showing yet and am still riding (despite the silly looks I get from the MIL). I will stop when I feel it is time. I know after our new addition arrives I will be anxious to get back in the saddle (and back in shape). My questions are: How long after your baby was born did you start riding again? What changed? What stayed the same? What did you find most challenging? I have heard stories of mommies having to "re-teach" themselves how to balance, and others say its like riding a bike ( it all comes back to you). I am wondering what all to expect :)
Thanks!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 128
| Ummm.....I just wrote out a whole response, then I realized it is you! I'll just text you.....in the meantime....get over it! You'll be fine! And so will little Webbie!  |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
 
Location: PNW | My timeline was a bit extended, as my son spent two weeks in the NICU and then was on heart medication for the first 11 months. I never left him around times that he needed his medication because I didn't feel comfortable having our sitter draw it up. So I only rode maybe once or twice a week for the first year or so.
I had a cesarean and was cleared to ride after eight weeks. I drove straight to the barn. Lol. It was like riding a bike for me as far as the actual riding goes, but because of my surgery my core was still pretty wobbly and not as strong as it used to be. It took me several rides before I felt like "my old self" - but the riding was fine, it was just relearning to use my core that was tricky.
I'm now 30 weeks pregnant with my SECOND son, the first is 18 months old. And I haven't ridden a step since getting pregnant because I'm being treated as high risk - even though this pregnancy has been textbook so far. But I've essentially ridden less than 30 times since March 2012 (when I got pregnant with my first son) - so we will see if it comes back quickly this time or not. I'll be having an RCS, so I imagine it being pretty similar to the first time, but maybe a little more difficult because of my not riding much prior to this pregnancy.
Congratulations!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Everyone is different. Every pregnancy is different.
My first pregnancy I was 18. I rode up until delivery and (no joke) first rodeo was four days after delivery. No problem.
Second pregnancy, I was in college, too poor to ride LOL!
Third pregnancy, I was establishing my career - too busy to ride.
Fourth pregnancy now, I raced up until 6 months on my reliable but not exactly fast horse. She's now at the breeder, and my other horses are a 16h 3yr old (too far to fall) and my daughters 22 year old (safe but not my style). I don't really anticipate any huge hurdles to getting back on. I'm sure I'll be out of shape, but I'll get back on as soon as I can. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | Congrats! I just had my 4th May 21. I hadn't ridden since last fall, when I was about 3 months along, because I didn't have a safe horse and we had a horrendous winter. Just got back my safe oldie-but-goodie and I got back on after 2 weeks (vaginal birth, no complications). My husband didn't want me to lift the saddle yet, but honestly, lifting the saddle was much easier than riding bareback, lol. The riding comes easy, but my muscles aren't where they were. My core is slushy, but it's coming back. I'm planning on getting my 3yo started back under saddle next week while the older kids are camping with the grandparents.
Enjoy your baby though, this time passes so very quickly :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| How long after your baby was born did you start riding again?
Had my kid in March (C-Section), rode for the first time end of April. Holy cow it was hard. No balance, your core is super weak. I took me about 3 months to feel ok in the saddle again, about a year to feel good competing. Depends how much you start riding. My husband is very supportive and encourages me to ride as often as I can while he watches the kid. He knows its my only down time/quiet time during the day. In return I watch the kid while he goes duck hunting in the fall/winter months. (Make sure you can find a balance with husband.... very important!!!)
What changed?
Your priorities change alot with kids. Not because you are forced to make a drastic change because you want to make the drastic change to be with your kids. The feeling you get when your kid is born is insane. You dont want to leave their side. I use to compete 3-4 weekends a month, now it 1x per month because thats what keeps me happy and balanced. I use to ride 6 days a week, now it 3-4x per week because I want to spend time with my kiddo.
What stayed the same?
Everything changes. Your morning routine changes, cooking dinner, eating, going to work, SLEEP, your marriage changes. The one thing I miss the most is having the ability to leave the house when I want to. Now it takes 20 mins to get everything together before leaving. Everything is a challenge but it can be hard and fun at the same time. The milestones in your kids life makes up for the difficulity of having a kid. (I know that sounds funny but you will see what im talking about)
What did you find most challenging?
Most challenging is lack of sleep. I think the longest I went without more than 1 hour of sleep was 3 days. My kid didnt sleep that often the first 6 months due to medical issues. Ask for help when you can get it.
Advice...... Make sure you establish bed time and that the baby doesnt sleep with you. I stuck to my guns on this one and its the best decision ever. My kid is 2 years old now, I tell her its bed time and she will walk in her room without a fuss.
Congrats on your little one! |
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 Peecans
| Each baby was very different for me.
1st - my last rodeo was 6 almost 7 months and barley showing, and I kept riding until she came. She was born in the fall so i just took all winter off and got back riding in the spring, it was a fairly easy to get back runing other than being a few pounds bigger everything balance wise was pefrect.
2nd - I quit riding at like a month them motion made me so sick I spent more time leaningnover my horse puking then acatualy riding. I even turned out of some rodeos and didn't enter anymore. I then decided to sell my good horse and use the Mon to send my prospect for training and hed be ready to role when I was ready. Well sold the rodeo horse and one thing after another with he prospect and he was gone too :-( havent really ran since then. Get to back riding was hard I had no balance and no confidance. It took a Lon Lon time to get good again. I started at 6 weeks post partum.
3rd - I felt great and was riding lots right at the beginning, then I had a subcoronic hemetoma and was medicaly not aloud to ride. Getting back riding this time had been easier than last time my balance is good, my get on mussle kinda crap out lol but its better every day, I started riding 3 ish weeks post partum and am now 7.
The hardest thing for me is to get the time to ride often, I try to get out every day but its often very early or very late. But im so determined to not let another year go by without entering something.
O and nursing bras are not at all supportive on "long trot day" ;-) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Oh - nursing bras! LOL!!!! I go into a 34G when nursing. Get an Enell brand sports bra for riding. You can take it off to feed littles. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| Thanks for this post, guys. I am in the same boat but no one other than my husband and myself know it yet. I can do without the "she shouldn't be riding OR handling a STALLION" looks for as long as I can. Hopefully I can get away with it for a while since I carry any extra weight in my stomach area, anyways. LOL
I was wondering the same things. :-) |
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| scwebster - 2014-06-10 10:32 AM
Ladies,
I am needing some honest advice here. The hubby and I are expecting our first little one. I am not showing yet and am still riding (despite the silly looks I get from the MIL). I will stop when I feel it is time. I know after our new addition arrives I will be anxious to get back in the saddle (and back in shape). My questions are: How long after your baby was born did you start riding again? What changed? What stayed the same? What did you find most challenging? I have heard stories of mommies having to "re-teach" themselves how to balance, and others say its like riding a bike ( it all comes back to you). I am wondering what all to expect :)
Thanks!!
I started riding again at 6 weeks lightly. My balance was horrible but I bought a nice older gelding that allowed me to get my confidence back. I would say at 4 months I was mostly back to normal. It is different for everyone. I know a girl who was riding at 4 weeks and I watched her win a barrel race. I am a very active person so it is different for everyone..but I went to almost 42 weeks...yieks!!
But don't worry, you'll get it all back!! By the way Congrats!! 
Edited by newracer 2014-06-10 9:54 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | My daughter is almost 11 months old now and I can tell you that while being pregnant I was super cranky about not being able to ride. I think in your situation...with it being summer and all I would ride until I was uncomfortable. For me I had a green broke 3 year old to ride and it was winter time for a large part of my pregnancy so I didn't think it was wise to ride in the snow and ice with such a young horse. Once spring time rolled around I was 5 months by March so I did a little riding after that just checking cows and what not but eventually the bouncing just got really uncomfortable and I didn't feel like I was safe. Like if my horse jumped I wouldn't be able to stick with her so I just decided I was done until afterward.
Once I had my daughter I rode at about 4 weeks postpartum but I was really careful because I had some bad tearing and just thought I would rather take it easy instead of chancing tearing anymore. But I also didn't have a horse ready to run so we were just doing slow stuff anyways. It did take me a while to get my balance back but all I can say is just be consistent. Even if you can only ride for 15 minutes during your baby's nap go out and do it. I often times take my baby monitor with me and just ride around the pastures as far as my monitor will reach. Don't expect great things but just take baby steps.
For the last 3 or 4 months I have been riding as much as possible. With that, all I can say is enjoy your baby and don't be in a rush for it to grow up! You only have them for so long but horses and barrel racing will always be there. Enjoy every moment!! |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | HorseMommyFiveO - 2014-06-10 5:25 PM
Oh - nursing bras! LOL!!!! I go into a 34G when nursing. Get an Enell brand sports bra for riding. You can take it off to feed littles.
YES! OMG!
I went from a 32B on a REALLY good day.... to a 32DDD (yes, triple D)
My first race back, I wore TWO sports bras over my regular nursing bra... the boobie bouncing hurts so much when they are full of milk :( |
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 Veteran
Posts: 178
| I barrel raced competitively until about 5 months, just did light riding after that until it just wasn't comfortable.
Had a normal vaginal birth for all 3 of my kids. Right after they were born, I was ready to head out to the barn and make sure chores were done right and everything was to my satisfaction while I was in the hospital lol. Began riding a week after they were born for all 3. It did make me bleed for a little longer than I probably would have, but it was fine. My oldest and youngest, it was old hat. My son (middle child) was a bigger baby and took a toll on me and I honestly feel like it took me two years to get it back as far as feeling like I could ride like I used to. My balance and muscles just seemed off and I just didn't feel like I could ride as well, but like I said, it came back.
One thing I noticed after the first, and it continues today, I am a little smarter and more conservative than I used to be. I have little people to look out for that need me, so I've noticed at times I'll think twice about something :) |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I had my first son July 30 2012, I barrel raced until March of 2012. Would I do it again? I'm not sure, totally cliche' but everything does change after you have your first child.
I entered my first barrel race August 18th and have been steady since!
Good luck you will be just fine! I was super worried about getting back at it also but everything worked out perfectly.  |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| You all have been so informative!!! Thanks to each of you!! I feel a lot better knowing what I can expect from people who are in similar situations as myself. Im almost scared to tell my OB about my riding because a non horse persons perception may be that im out riding broncs or something lol. I also can't wait for someone else to tell me I need to stay off my horse! HA! I am still quite early but I feel safe in doing what I am right now. I hope it goes as smoothly for me as it has for most of you. I am def going to enjoy my little one but I maybe rely on my horses to keep me sane. I will be investing in a good baby monitor also lol.
Thanks again!!  |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Really great information on what to expect, since hubby and I may try to start a family next year.
It's nice to hear from those who have been there and done that.
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 ND Sweetheart
Posts: 3471
Location: In My Own Dream Land | As everyone said, each is different. I only ran for 2 months after I found out, but only because there wasn't anywhere else to go. I had her May 11, Rode when she was a week old, entered a jackpot when she was 2 weeks and a rodeo when she was 3 weeks. My balance was there, but my core wasn't. So instead of running in the 1d, I was in the 3d. Its very difficult for me to find the time to ride. I'm home alone 90% of the time. (SO is on the road). I ride when she goes to bed, and take a monitor with me. She is 2 BTW. I work 8-5 everday, so can't ride during the day. I am still not "in shape" but I havent tried either. I know some who when home with baby and were back in their normal pants. I'm still 2 sizes bigger, but I was a size1 before I had my daughter. One thing I would suggest, is don't expect to be back to where you were before baby for awhile. I pushed myself too hard to get back into it and almost quit completely. Take the time to enjoy your baby, they grow up way too fast. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| scwebster - 2014-06-11 3:08 PM
You all have been so informative!!! Thanks to each of you!! I feel a lot better knowing what I can expect from people who are in similar situations as myself. Im almost scared to tell my OB about my riding because a non horse persons perception may be that im out riding broncs or something lol. I also can't wait for someone else to tell me I need to stay off my horse! HA! I am still quite early but I feel safe in doing what I am right now. I hope it goes as smoothly for me as it has for most of you. I am def going to enjoy my little one but I maybe rely on my horses to keep me sane. I will be investing in a good baby monitor also lol.
Thanks again!!
My first OB cleared me to ride and wrote me a note for the rodeo four days post partum. But this OB, I just keep it to myself. LOL!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 933
Location: north dakota | I rode a horse the day I got out of the hospital. The biggest problem I have is getting a family member or babysitter out to watch my youngest on a consistent basis to get the horses I need to rode. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| svincent - 2014-06-10 9:48 PM
HorseMommyFiveO - 2014-06-10 5:25 PM
Oh - nursing bras! LOL!!!! I go into a 34G when nursing. Get an Enell brand sports bra for riding. You can take it off to feed littles.
YES! OMG!
I went from a 32B on a REALLY good day.... to a 32DDD (yes, triple D )
My first race back, I wore TWO sports bras over my regular nursing bra... the boobie bouncing hurts so much when they are full of milk : (
Holy Crap! I stated out a 36C and am now a 38D at 7 weeks. Uggh...I bet I end up where you are.  I guess as long as I don't have to buy formula it's all good. LOL! |
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