Pregnant and Climbing

Suggestions, tips, experience with climbing pregnant? Its my first time being pregnant and any information helps on how to proceed climbing throughout my pregnancy. We will be moving back to Yosemite come May and I still want to climb. How long did you climb for? Did you notice you couldn't climb as hard or certain things were more difficult than others? Had to climb easier routes?  When did you stop climbing? Still do any multi-pitch?

Edit: For the record, I have a doctor and a midwife. I do not need advice on anything medical, nutritional etc. Unless you have tips on snacks to take on routes cause im always hungry lol.

I have a full body harness I will be switching to when mine gets to tight.

I understand that every pregnancy is different. If I wasnt feeling up to climb I wouldn't be posting this. I'm still new to climbing and don't need comments on it not being a competition etc. DUH. I climb because it makes me happy, its fun and I love being outside and plan to show my child that life as well.

You can climb until the day you give birth. Plenty of women do. Plenty of women also don’t.

You can’t predict how you would feel, and how your pregnancy would progress. Some women are gung ho to climb, but start experiencing pelvic instability, joint pains, etc, that make climbing painful/uncomfortable/not worth it. Others just feel no energy, and can’t muster the effort. 

We just had a baby shower at a climbing gym for a friend who is due in 4 weeks... well, less now. She is climbing very well. Just a touch easier than her normal.  Walking up 5.11’s like it’s nothing! She’s gained very little extra weight, other than her belly, one of those graceful ladies that you can’t even tell is pregnant, if you see her from the back. Some routes give her trouble though— more overhanging, for example. Those she tries, and if they feel uncomfortable, and she backs off. 

But the main things to remember is that:
1) it is not a contest, you don’t have to outmom every other pregnant mom out there. 
2) pregnancy is not the time to push your climbing hard. Enjoy climbing, watch your diet, stay in generally-good health, as far as it is in your power. You didn’t get pregnant in order to improve your climbing. Focus on that.  3) the rock will still be there after you give birth, don’t worry. 

A friend of mine is also preggers with her first. You'll want to borrow a larger harness at some point and maybe add a tied chest harness. My daughter's mother climbed for the first six months.

Hello!
I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with my first child, so I can tell you what my experience has been so far.
When people tell you that everyone's experiences during pregnancy are different, that is totally accurate. I would suggest just listening to your body, and doing what feels right until it doesn't anymore. There just isn't enough (or really any) medical research on pregnant women and climbing to know the true limits of what is good/bad or safe/unsafe. You will also always hear comments like the one above (typically from men) who believe that you climbing, running, training, or doing anything more than walking is wreckless and dangerous. I would just ignore those comments. Your intuition is your best bet, no one knows your body better than you.
ANYWAYS:
- I continued to lead climb at a comfortable/easy grade through the first trimester (when I wasn't feeling like garbage), but would not take any falls (both in the gym and outside). I started exclusively toproping (inside and outside) once I started the second trimester. I personally felt uncomfortable falling while bouldering unless I was on the moonboard which is really close to the ground, so I mostly stuck to rope climbing, but I have also seen pregnant women boulder in the gym and drop from the top and not seem worried. To each her own.
- I continued my usual trail running until about 24 weeks when my round ligament pain started to wreck me and I could feel extra pelvic pressure/discomfort, then I just switched to hiking or low impact cardio.
-I continued my regular climbing training (hangboarding and weights, though modified as I got heavier and lost core strength) until about 27 weeks, or the end of the second trimester, when I noticed some doming in my stomach. This is a signal of the uterus pressing and stressing/stretching your abdominals, and can lead to diastasis recti.
- Once I hit 30 weeks, I started getting a lot bigger, much more tired, (that's when the baby REALLY starts to grow) and I stopped caring about how hard I was climbing, and just started enjoying toproping anything with my friends. I steer clear of roofs and really steep stuff since I have mostly lost all my core and I'm dragging an extra 25lbs around. But can generally still climb at about one number grade below my redpoint level.
-Also, I didn't switch to a pregnancy harness until I was about 6 months along and my regular harness wouldn't fit anymore. I wouldn't make the switch until you actually need to, cause it's definitely not as comfortable.
-I still climb about 2  times a week (at 35 weeks pregnant), and plan to continue that until it's go time.  If it wasn't winter in Utah I would still be climbing outside too, but ya know, snow. I haven't really noticed any joint/ligament loosening outside of my pelvis/low back, and that's the only thing that gets sore at all from climbing, but again, I've known some women (Beth Rodden mentions this in her blog) that just didn't enjoy climbing in the third trimester and stopped due to the discomfort. Also, I'm just so tired and uncomfortable at this point, and I've found that just climbing a few pitches is a nice distraction from that discomfort, if only for an hour or so.

Good luck and god speed! Enjoy climbing, listen to your body, and modify as you go.
-Em

Tim Stich wrote: A friend of mine is also preggers with her first. You'll want to borrow a larger harness at some point and maybe add a tied chest harness. My daughter's mother climbed for the first six months.

I have a full body harness.

Emily Harris wrote: Hello!
I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with my first child, so I can tell you what my experience has been so far.
When people tell you that everyone's experiences during pregnancy are different, that is totally accurate. I would suggest just listening to your body, and doing what feels right until it doesn't anymore. There just isn't enough (or really any) medical research on pregnant women and climbing to know the true limits of what is good/bad or safe/unsafe. You will also always hear comments like the one above (typically from men) who believe that you climbing, running, training, or doing anything more than walking is wreckless and dangerous. I would just ignore those comments. Your intuition is your best bet, no one knows your body better than you.
ANYWAYS:
- I continued to lead climb at a comfortable/easy grade through the first trimester (when I wasn't feeling like garbage), but would not take any falls (both in the gym and outside). I started exclusively toproping (inside and outside) once I started the second trimester. I personally felt uncomfortable falling while bouldering unless I was on the moonboard which is really close to the ground, so I mostly stuck to rope climbing, but I have also seen pregnant women boulder in the gym and drop from the top and not seem worried. To each her own.
- I continued my usual trail running until about 24 weeks when my round ligament pain started to wreck me and I could feel extra pelvic pressure/discomfort, then I just switched to hiking or low impact cardio.
-I continued my regular climbing training (hangboarding and weights, though modified as I got heavier and lost core strength) until about 27 weeks, or the end of the second trimester, when I noticed some doming in my stomach. This is a signal of the uterus pressing and stressing/stretching your abdominals, and can lead to diastasis recti.
- Once I hit 30 weeks, I started getting a lot bigger, much more tired, (that's when the baby REALLY starts to grow) and I stopped caring about how hard I was climbing, and just started enjoying toproping anything with my friends. I steer clear of roofs and really steep stuff since I have mostly lost all my core and I'm dragging an extra 25lbs around. But can generally still climb at about one number grade below my redpoint level.
-Also, I didn't switch to a pregnancy harness until I was about 6 months along and my regular harness wouldn't fit anymore. I wouldn't make the switch until you actually need to, cause it's definitely not as comfortable.
-I still climb about 2  times a week (at 35 weeks pregnant), and plan to continue that until it's go time.  If it wasn't winter in Utah I would still be climbing outside too, but ya know, snow. I haven't really noticed any joint/ligament loosening outside of my pelvis/low back, and that's the only thing that gets sore at all from climbing, but again, I've known some women (Beth Rodden mentions this in her blog) that just didn't enjoy climbing in the third trimester and stopped due to the discomfort. Also, I'm just so tired and uncomfortable at this point, and I've found that just climbing a few pitches is a nice distraction from that discomfort, if only for an hour or so.

Good luck and god speed! Enjoy climbing, listen to your body, and modify as you go.
-Em

Thank you for the useful information and for not giving extra commentary as the lady above. The one thing driving me the craziest is when you ask about one thing how many other opinions you get and people explaining to you as if your incompetent or dont see a doctor. Anyways, I to live in the snow right now so I hear you on that! Snowboarding and ice climbing though. The indoor climbing gym sometimes to. I will be in Utah in May! I might be being overly ambitious but hoping to climb in the creek again where baby was actually conceived lol. Pregnancy is so cool it was so wierd seeing the placenta come up out of the pelvic area. 

I got my full body harness in the mail and we tried it at the gym just for kicks and it was definitely way less comfortable. I'm glad to hear I can use my normal harness for quite a bit longer. Im not showing much yet and my harness was maxed out by end of summer so I should be able to expand it for a bit.

Thank you again 

I had twins. Stopped leading at 12 weeks. Switched to full body harness and stopped lead belaying at 20 weeks. And tapered out of bouldering around 6 mths.
At around 28 weeks my climbing grade drastically reduced as my belly grew at an exponential rate, high steps became difficult. Totally stopped climbing at 32 weeks because I was just too huge. I think if it wasn't twins, I would have kept climbing until week 38. (this is all outdoor climbing since we don't have an indoor tall climbing wall in my city)

Full body harnesses are really uncomfortable. But I liked climbing more than the discomfort. It takes some getting used to but it's manageable.

Nearer to the 3rd trimester, I had a lot of hand cramps while climbing. Likely because I didn't drink enough water.

My doctor told me to not do any physcial activity. I ignored her.

My wife is 20 weeks pregnant and we were just out climbing easy stuff out at Red Rocks. She didn't want to take any falls just encase something would go wrong. Just be aware that heat may bother you more and you will get tired quicker. Also her shoes got tighter, not sure of that happens to everyone though. She is just wearing her normal harness. With our first I believe she climbed till 30 weeks and then she just started feeling crappy so she stopped. Our 1 and a half year old is already climbing stuff. Pretty soon here I'll need some kids harnesses and shoes. 

Don't jostle the fetus. 

trailridge wrote: Don't jostle the fetus. 

...dafaq does that even mean?

I stopped climbing at around 2mo pregnant because my doctor basically laughed in my face when I asked her about it.  It's my understanding that you can basically exercise as much as you did pre-pregnancy, just listen to your body and mind your limits.  If I have another child, I'm definitely climbing as much as I feel like.  The only things I'd recommend against are bouldering and leading just for the fall potential because that can cause a miscarriage.  Also, make sure you stay hydrated with any exercise because dehydration can cause premature labor.  Beyond that though, just like when you climb by yourself, it's risk assessment.  Do what you feel is safe for your baby.

This topic actually makes me laugh a bit because I just watched the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry confronts the pregnant woman on the treadmill.  You will definitely get some of that, as the quoted post clearly demonstrates... 

Gina Penguinn wrote:

...dafaq does that even mean?

I stopped climbing at around 2mo pregnant because my doctor basically laughed in my face when I asked her about it.  It's my understanding that you can basically exercise as much as you did pre-pregnancy, just listen to your body and mind your limits.  If I have another child, I'm definitely climbing as much as I feel like.  The only things I'd recommend against are bouldering and leading just for the fall potential because that can cause a miscarriage.  Also, make sure you stay hydrated with any exercise because dehydration can cause premature labor.  Beyond that though, just like when you climb by yourself, it's risk assessment.  Do what you feel is safe for your baby.

This topic actually makes me laugh a bit because I just watched the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry confronts the pregnant woman on the treadmill.  You will definitely get some of that, as the quoted post clearly demonstrates... 

Haha I had no words for the dont jostle the fetus...idk what you even say to that.  But thank you and I am in Japan so I dont tell my doctors what im doing as anything more than walking is not advised. They are so strict here. Also learning not all countries agree with doing things like snowboarding or climbing. Even though snowboarding is like second nature I have gotten some serious commentary. 

Steph Hukk wrote:

Haha I had no words for the dont jostle the fetus...idk what you even say to that.  But thank you and I am in Japan so I dont tell my doctors what im doing as anything more than walking is not advised. They are so strict here. Also learning not all countries agree with doing things like snowboarding or climbing. Even though snowboarding is like second nature I have gotten some serious commentary. 

I think the biggest issue is mitigating the risk of falling.  For that reason, I personally would not snowboard.  I also wouldn't do anything other than top rope.  Even if you're feeling confident on easy terrain... accidents happen.  That's me though, I know someone with 2 children and a 3rd on the way who boulders while pregnant.  She loves her kids.  She's a good mom.  She wouldn't put her unborn child at risk.

There's this strange stigma in the US about how we treat pregnancy and abortion.  There's this idea that fetuses need to be protected from careless mothers or some imaginary majority of women using the invasive uncomfortable procedure of abortion as birth control.  Personally, I think we need to have a little faith that most women are capable of making competent choices with their bodies and their babies.  Asking for advice and opinions is one of the ways in which you are personally accomplishing that right now.  Don't worry so much about the criticism.  You, unfortunately, will have PLENTY of that even after your babe arrives.  Do your research, don't be intimidated to ask for help, and trust your instincts.  You're already doing great, momma.  Congrats on the new addition to your family!

Gina Penguinn wrote:

I think the biggest issue is mitigating the risk of falling.  For that reason, I personally would not snowboard.  I also wouldn't do anything other than top rope.  Even if you're feeling confident on easy terrain... accidents happen.  That's me though, I know someone with 2 children and a 3rd on the way who boulders while pregnant.  She loves her kids.  She's a good mom.  She wouldn't put her unborn child at risk.

There's this strange stigma in the US about how we treat pregnancy and abortion.  There's this idea that fetuses need to be protected from careless mothers or some imaginary majority of women using the invasive uncomfortable procedure of abortion as birth control.  Personally, I think we need to have a little faith that most women are capable of making competent choices with their bodies and their babies.  Asking for advice and opinions is one of the ways in which you are personally accomplishing that right now.  Don't worry so much about the criticism.  You, unfortunately, will have PLENTY of that even after your babe arrives.  Do your research, don't be intimidated to ask for help, and trust your instincts.  You're already doing great, momma.  Congrats on the new addition to your family!

Im from the US so I definitely get it. We will be headed back to deliver and my fiance works in Yosemite. But yes I agree I personally will still snowboard but bouldering to me is a huge no. I think it's exactly what your saying just trusting yourself and your capabilities. Thank you we ate very excited.