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Climbing while Pregnant

Original Post
Hannah Senadenos · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2020 · Points: 0

So far, being 3 months in, this is a healthy pregnancy, and I feel good exercising. My doc looked at me like I was crazy when I said I do indoor rock climbing (top rope with a grigri and auto-belay only). She said anything with a risk of falling aka impact is a no-go and said to stop. I have always felt safe climbing indoors and am not advanced by any means so my routes are always 5.9-5.11a. I am now paranoid about the complete off chance the auto-belay fails or the metal rod that holds the top rope is going to fall off. I can't imagine any other way for me to get injured in this activity, the way I do it. I mean, little kids climb these walls all day. I just need some reassurance...

Jesse Neal · · Charlotte, NC · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 1

My wife climbed, top rope only, from about 12 weeks up to 37 weeks. She only stopped because she got scheduled for an induction beginning of week 38. We have a totally healthy baby girl as of Wednesday.

Climbing is all about risk management and what you feel comfortable with. I’d recommend finding a pregnancy harness for your bump once the standard waist harness becomes uncomfortable. The Petzl 8003 worked real well for my wife.

Good luck and enjoy sending the top rope proj with a baby bump making all the gym bros jealous

nowhere · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 0

My partner climbed most of her pregnancy, I think she stopped leading around 3 or 4 months then was top rope only. She stopped at almost 8 months but only because she had to return the pregnancy harness we had borrowed from a friend. Baby totally healthy. 

I think top roping has a pretty negligible risk profile for your baby. when was the last time you damaged an internal organ toproping?

There’s a bunch of high profile pros who have climbed through their pregnancy, Paige Classen, Shauna coxsey, and Alex puccio who is currently pregnant. Check out Puccios Instagram, she’s been posting a bunch about it. 

Pieter Beerepoot · · Boston, MA · Joined Feb 2020 · Points: 51

My partner climbed TR both indoors and outdoors until about 20 weeks for our first one and now she’s 15 weeks into the second. Even went on a climbing trip although she stuck to single pitch because she didnt feel up to multis.  She found she got tired/out of breath more easily but never figured there was much risk to it. She also skied until 34 weeks, which is obviously is more risky.

To add to the list Hazel Findlay is also pregnant and climbing so a good follow for stoke! 

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

My wife climbed as late into her first pregnancy as she had the energy for (maybe 5 months?), and we lacked opportunities on the second. She stopped climbing at about month 6 with this third one.

My wife’s sister kept climbing into like month 8 or something, with both of her pregnancies.

Take your doctor’s advice under consideration, certainly, but also trust your body to tell you when to stop. Climbing need not be defined by hard impacts, so obviously avoid those and you’ll be fine.

Zoe Stone · · Narvik, NO · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 0

I think people who don’t climb don’t understand how low-impact it can be if you’re top-roping in a managed environment. When I was pregnant and talked to my doctor about climbing, she recommended I take up a “safer activity like mountain biking”. lol. Anyway, I climbed until about 30 weeks until I could not drag myself upward without major ab separation. Now I have an awesome kid and it all worked out. Good luck, have fun, and do what feels right to you :)

Steph Evans · · Belgrade, MT · Joined Jul 2019 · Points: 0

I climbed to 40 weeks outdoors with my first including ice climbing initially and climbed not as much with my second but some. we're also living somewhere else and I'm not a huge indoor climbing person. Listen to your body, switch to a full body harness when your regular gets uncomfortable, and watch for coning in your belly (try to avoid moves that do that). Theres a lot of us that do and I think it's safe and healthy. Just don't go for harder stuff. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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