Pregnancy and motorcycling

[flyingcrocodile46]

If I was pregnant I'd have a lot more to worry about than whether it was ok to ride a bike.

[Gone Burger]

I have thought about this topic on occasions, and guess I wouldn't know what my opinion is until I was in the situation. I do know that being on a bike makes me the happiest I have ever been, but perhaps if I was pregnant on eday, that might would make me happier? I would of course be concerned about having an accident and not just putting myself at risk. But can't really say how I feel about it until I have been there.. one day, will be interesting to see my views at the time.

[bikemike]

My wife rode until sometime in 5th month with our first. She came home from a spin one day whilst I was at work and said 'that's it, no more riding 'til after the baby arrives'. Still waiting to get her some new wheels, though with number two just arrived, it'll be a while!

I reckon if you are worried about it don't do it.

If you aren't and you can get the gear on and ride without discomfort or distraction it can't be any better or worse for you than any other activity that we worry too much about these days.

[R-Soul]

My wife quit immediately after hearing about her pregnancy (our third). I would not want it any other way. She had just got her learners, and was not confident.

As a dad I feel quite strongly about it. I know that it is more dangerous than driving in car, and as a leaner, there are evenmore things to worry about. Having said that, I would not take my 4 year old on a bike with me, while others would. I guess each to their own.

If you aren't pregnant and something happens, it is your life , your risk, your decision, and you have more chance to survive, being big and adult enough to take a few knocks. But if you are pregnant, and something does happen, and your child is brain damaged or killed, you will not just lose a bike, or even JUST an arm or leg. You will probably lose your marriage (I would find it difficult to forgive my wife if she put our kid in harms way that could be avoided in the first place), and most importantly your future. And definitely your sanity, because you would be blaming yourself for the rest of your life, when it could have been avoided.

I will probably get shredded for this, but DONT DO IT!

[Little Miss Trouble]

My wife quit immediately after hearing about her pregnancy (our third). I would not want it any other way. She had just got her learners, and was not confident.

As a dad I feel quite strongly about it. I know that it is more dangerous than driving in car, and as a leaner, there are evenmore things to worry about. Having said that, I would not take my 4 year old on a bike with me, while others would. I guess each to their own.

If you aren't pregnant and something happens, it is your life , your risk, your decision, and you have more chance to survive, being big and adult enough to take a few knocks. But if you are pregnant, and something does happen, and your child is brain damaged or killed, you will not just lose a bike, or even JUST an arm or leg. You will probably lose your marriage (I would find it difficult to forgive my wife if she put our kid in harms way that could be avoided in the first place), and most importantly your future. And definitely your sanity, because you would be blaming yourself for the rest of your life, when it could have been avoided.

I will probably get shredded for this, but DONT DO IT!

Obviously an ignorant male point of view. I expected nothing less from you of course.

[flyingcrocodile46]

Obviously an ignorant male point of view. I expected nothing less from you of course.

The ignorance lies with the person who denies the validity of his point of view.

[Little Miss Trouble]

The ignorance lies with the person who denies the validity of his point of view.

I don't deny that the initial part of his point of view is completely valid...

It is the second scare mongering part that I took exception to

[Virago]

...But if you are pregnant, and something does happen, and your child is brain damaged or killed, you will not just lose a bike, or even JUST an arm or leg. You will probably lose your marriage (I would find it difficult to forgive my wife if she put our kid in harms way that could be avoided in the first place), and most importantly your future. And definitely your sanity, because you would be blaming yourself for the rest of your life, when it could have been avoided.

I will probably get shredded for this, but DONT DO IT!

Perceived risk is subjective, and is an issue for parents to discuss together. But the archaic "barefoot and pregnant" approach is still around, it seems.

I would suspect that most relationships would rise above the level of punitive threats regarding accident consequences, and instead be a matter for respectful negotiation. Perhaps your marriage vows were different to others?

[flyingcrocodile46]

Bugger the marriage vows.
I got a pre-nup in which SWMBO'd agreed to obey my every command and whim.

Fuck all good that did.

[rie]

...You will probably lose your marriage (I would find it difficult to forgive my wife if she put our kid in harms way that could be avoided in the first place), and most importantly your future. And definitely your sanity, because you would be blaming yourself for the rest of your life, when it could have been avoided.

I would have thought the dangers of this happening could occur from anything. Maybe from a car accident. Bus accident. Inhaling fumes from walking down the street.

So basically, pregnant women are safe from a lifetime of torment and blame if they were locked away at home and pad themselves in cotton. (But then, the house could burn down...)

I think that R-Soul is actually saying the same thing as everybody else (although it is worded rather controversially). It's a subjective decision, based on calculated risk, based on personal comfort. Lula asked about what a doctor would say - which is related to this subjective calculation of risk.

[Grubber]

i will never have kids, but i would give it up for the time required if the unthinkable did happen. wouldnt want to do anything to risk it, and biking is dangerous enough without adding a baby to the mix. i would do same if i drank and smoked... quit for the health of the baby.

Ok well thats a bit too sad for me. What a bugger in all seriousness.

[R-Soul]

Perceived risk is subjective, and is an issue for parents to discuss together. But the archaic "barefoot and pregnant" approach is still around, it seems.

I would suspect that most relationships would rise above the level of punitive threats regarding accident consequences, and instead be a matter for respectful negotiation. Perhaps your marriage vows were different to others?

They were not punitive threats- they were an honest expression of my feelings. Luckily for me, they matched my wifes feelings and she said she would feel the same way if roles were reversed. We have matching objectives - one of them being doing all we can to ensure that our kids are happy and healthy. And biking with them (born or unborn) falls way short of that standard.

But yes, it is all about calculated risk. My risk management experience has taught me that you look at two things:
1) the probability of the risky event happeneing,
2) as well as the effect of the risked event happening

You multiply these to get a weighted assessment. If it has an extreme effect, but very low probability (eg getting shot in an armed robbery) , its probably OK. And the same if it has a low effect, but a reasonable chance of it happening (eg kids falling off a swing). There are also some things that you just cannot avoid, like driving, so you get on with life, while driving carefully (which you do anyway) - but at least you know you have some effective protection around you.

In this case, it is (subjectively for me anyway) a high probablity on the first question (and the probablitity threshold is pretty low for such a question), and the answer is "life-changing-freakishly-bad" on the second. So a high probabiliity of the unthinkable happening. Thats why I was very supportive when my wife decided to steer clear of riding for a while.

I know you girls will all be up in arms about womans freedom of choice etc. You asked the queston - I was giving my perspective from a logical point of view. Dont shoot the messenger.

[R-Soul]

Obviously an ignorant male point of view. I expected nothing less from you of course.

See my post on risk management- nothing ignorant about it - but I expected nothing more than very little thought from you.

"Hey if it feels good, do it ...."

[R-Soul]

I don't deny that the initial part of his point of view is completely valid...

It is the second scare mongering part that I took exception to

Its hardly scare mongering- it is setting out my imagining of how a normal, intelligent, rational (i.e. not you) person would probably react to a worst case scenario - a scenario that is not hugely low on probability.

So because I set out a realistic scenario of what life would be like after a worst case scenario (tell me its not realistic), I am scare mongering? Perhaps some on this thread had not fully applied their mind to this question or considered this aspect properly- if this helps them think about all aspects more clearly, then its a good thing. At the end of the day they can still make their own decisions about it.

[R-Soul]

i will never have kids, but i would give it up for the time required if the unthinkable did happen. wouldnt want to do anything to risk it, and biking is dangerous enough without adding a baby to the mix. i would do same if i drank and smoked... quit for the health of the baby.

Now to my mind, every one should have your attitude- we never know when this gift could be taken away. We should treat it as teh most precious thing we have ever received. To my mind ANY probability of significant risk is too high.