Rachel Stillwell, is originally from New Zealand and is a keen cyclist. She rode right through her pregnancy and now loves to ride with her baby. Here she shares her experience of cycling after birth, offering helpful advice for others looking to do the same

Reader’s Story: Cycling While Pregnant

‘Can I eat blue cheese and rare steak?’ The Swiss doctor said yes, no problem, just avoid strong flavours that might affect your milk, like asparagus. ‘Can I do sport, yoga and cycling ?’. No yoga, she said, not until your six week check-up. However there’s no reason why you can’t recommence cycling after childbirth as soon as you feel like it, taking it easy of course. I couldn’t believe my luck. The internet had convinced me that I’d have to wait six weeks until getting back on my bike. I asked my midwife the same question just to be sure. Oui, was the answer, tu peux faire du vélo.

With my one week old baby in care of his papa, I tentatively rolled my pregnancy bike out of the bike store. I climbed onto the seat nervously, anticipating discomfort and maybe pain. I was first surprised and then thrilled to find I felt fine, and with high spirits I rolled down the hill to the supermarket, feeling almost normal.