Can i go hiking while pregnant

I asked my wife if she wouldn't mind hiking, canoeing and adventuring this area while pregnant. From that point on, I went into full research mode and decided that this would be a the perfect opportunity for us to spend time together, just the two of us, before we become a family of four.

Banff, I would soon discover, is not only beautiful, but it is also a very popular destination of travel. I researched some more, only to discover some less crowded parks, like Yoho National, the British Columbia park bordering Banff, Alberta. I had seen images of these tucked away log cabins right on the lake and I couldn't imagine staying anywhere else to experience the area.

When I called in January to make a reservation, the entire year was booked solid, with the exception two dates in mid July. Booking in July meant my wife would be 7 months pregnant, and I wasn't totally comfortable with that.

This pregnancy was also proving to be quite different from the first, as my wife was extremely tired and sore at the end of most days. It doesn't make sense to go. She's going to feel even worse by the time we go. Still, my wife insisted that she would be fine. Together we looked for articles about hiking during your third trimester and found examples of other women and what they had done to make the activity more comfortable and enjoyable.

We got the green light from her obstetrician as well, making me feel a little relieved that I wasn't completely crazy for taking a pregnant woman to the rockies. Before the trip, we did a couple of hikes to make sure she was okay, but nothing drastic as we knew that no amount of training at that point could compensate for 6 days in the mountains. Our experience at the lodge and the views of the lake were indescribably beautiful. You either need to be a guest at the lodge or reserve a spot on the shuttle ahead of time, which creates a secluded and unique experience.

Lake Oesa was our first hiking destination. We couldn't do the full loop because of the snow levels, so in total it was 5. This was perfect to start because we didn't need to be pushing our limits on distance with a 7 month pregnant woman.

We agreed to hike slow, let my wife set the pace and take breaks as often as she wanted. I was in no hurry, and my goal was to enjoy this with her. The elevation was definitely the most strenuous on her body; she could hike a good distance on flat ground, but aggressive elevations would require frequent and sometimes lengthy breaks.

I had more time to see my surroundings, and my mind was consumed by so much more than my foot placement. On the hike, I stayed vigilant keeping Megan hydrated and having her check her heart rate to make sure we weren't pushing any limits.

So long as your baby is healthy, walking will do it no harm, quite the opposite. While waiting for your child to be born, take the opportunity to walk to awaken all your senses and experience each moment to the full. Delve into nature. The plants, trees and flowers that surround us play a vital role in our daily well-being. The more you are around them, the better you will feel.

You can also try mindfulness meditation. The advantage of this type of meditation is that you can practice it even when walking. It's also a great way to work on your breathing. This will help your body to be better prepared for the day you give birth. Always remember to carry one or several bottles of water with you on your walks to keep your body hydrated.

Avoid the heat as much as possible. Make the most of the pure mountain air to take in the oxygen! Why not also keep a little diary of your outings with photos, your child-to-be will be delighted to discover what your life was like just before their birth.

Learn how your comment data is processed. Determined to combine parenthood with her love of travel and the great outdoors, Kate founded Baby Routes in after the birth of her first daughter. Follow on Instagram. Made with by Graphene Themes.

Toggle navigation Baby Routes. Just keep moving. OK — ignore this for those truly hideous days of nausea and exhaustion in the first trimester. I am the first to admit on the worst of those days I simply curled up into a ball, stuck CBeebies on and counted down the hours until bedtime! As a general rule though, little and often keeps your body ticking over. A simple ten minute stroll even on a day when I am feeling lousy revives depleted energy levels, makes me feel more positive and helps me sleep more soundly at night.

It also means that when I suddenly have the get-up-and-go for my usual longer adventures I have the physical ability still to keep up with the rest of the family. I also find that if baby is lying in an awkward position then a good walk will usually help shift them round to somewhere more comfortable.

Listen to your body. During our first week in Switzerland I took in a m mountaintop and 6 hours of hiking with not an ache to show for it the next day. I could barely make it to the corner and back without feeling exhausted. I had the same thing with Roo: at 38 weeks I got so frustrated at taking 30 minutes to waddle painfully to the village shop, normally a simple ten minute amble.