How long did you wait after giving birth to start riding again?

Question

Just curious...how long did you wait after having a baby to start riding your horse again?

(please only answer if you have actually had a baby)

Answer 1

ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Answer 2

First baby - about 5 weeks.

Second baby - 8 weeks.

Third baby - severe post-natal depression and no desire to ride, so about 7-8 months

Fourth baby - about 3 1/2 months, but her birth was my only c-section and it wasn't too pretty; she's now going on 9 months and I'm only just starting to get comfortable cantering. I believe Pippa Funnell rode Badminton when her son was 6 weeks old, but then we're not all Pippa bloody Funnell, are we?!

(Not having any more babies - pregnancy infringes too much on my riding time!)

Answer 3

Since everyone's labor and delivery is different.  This is something that should be discussed with your doctor.  He or she will know better as to what shape you are in to ride again.  Your body has gone through quite a bit as far as having a baby and horseback riding puts strain in places you don't want right now.  Since 6 weeks is the time frame for returning to work...you can use that time-frame for riding....but probably only walking trail rides.  Advise your doctor of your wish to ride again and go by the guide-lines set by your M.D.

Answer 4

I would guess if everything goes smoothly then as soon as you feel ready.

Answer 5

I asked my Dr. The answer was at least 6-8 weeks and then depending on how well you mend and feel. I couldn't wait!

Answer 6

Well if it was a troubled birth then i would wait until the baby was weaned.

But we would always start riding when the baby was around 4 months old but they would be easy short rides, so that the baby can easily follow the mom.

But to be on the safe side i would wait till the baby is weaned away from the mother.

Hope i helped!

Answer 7

I don't actually ride but my sister in law does, personally if you gave birth naturally I'd wait until you finnish bleeding at least, but remember you'll be very sore if your not already, so I'd wait until you have no pain at all and can do your routine day to day tasks. its also important to take things slow. I will say if you start having s*x and its not painful then it should be OK to ride again.

Answer 8

I had c-sections with both of mine, after the first, I was back on after about 6 weeks but there was something wrong with my incision - weird scar tissue or something - and it was sooo painful.  Luckily it got fixed on the second kid, but for 2 years it really hurt to ride. I'd say wait 6 weeks, then start back lightly. Of course, the doctor will tell you you can't even drive a car or walk up stairs for 6 weeks, but heck, they don't know how tough horsewomen are. I was back to teaching 48 hours after the first one, and left the hospital 12 hours after the second - I had a horse show to be at!

Good luck, and congratulations!

Answer 9

Just getting on and walking around...just to 'say' I was riding again...about 3 weeks.  Really just going around the fields...

Starting to do trotting and loping...about 6 weeks.  The tensing and muscles I used for balance really didn't feel 'good' until that time.

At about 3 months after...I was back to 'working' the horse for ranch work and competitions.

Don't know if it makes a difference...but I ride western.

Answer 10

I waited until the uterus was involuted, which means you no longer have any vaginal discharge.  If you breast feed, it can happen in three weeks, and if you don't it will take up to 6 weeks. Even though I breast fed, I  still waited the 6 weeks just to be sure.

The reason to wait is because you risk damaging the perineal floor (muscles etc that support pelvic organs) and could later have problems with herniations of the urinary bladder, or the r****m, or both into the vaginal walls (called cystocele and rectocele)..so wait until healing is complete. I've had 3 babies.

Answer 11

I'm not exactly sure, but I think it was pretty close to 6 weeks.  I had some stitches down there and needed the time to heal up.  After only maybe 2 weeks, I went out to longe my horse and other unmounted stuff like that.  I was at the end of my 7th month before I quit riding while pregnant.

Answer 12

6 weeks seemed about right.