Biking at 14 weeks Pregnant

This is a series I’m doing where I document how it feels to commute by bike during my pregnancy every few weeks. This is the first post of the series.

I biked to work today and the weather was -2C, with a 15-20KM/hr headwind. The road was a bit wet from the recent snow and ice but there was no icy patches and it was generally cleared. The ride was good, but rough. My average speed was around 10-15km/hr and while I could feel my heart working harder, I got pretty warmed up by the 2 KM mark and started reducing some of my layers - first the face covering, and then unzipping the main zipper around the 2.5km mark.

Overall, the ride was slow and physically challenging but I’m glad I did it. I saw many people huddling by the side waiting for the streetcar on my way to work. Being pregnant means that my immune system is working at reduced capacity and the last thing I really need is to be in a crowded space (like a subway/streetcar) sharing air with others during flu season, even if I’m wearing a face mask. On a personal level, I find cycling outside during the winter to be really refreshing. Yes, it’s cold but it’s often very stuffy inside during winter. During my first trimester, when I was experience more nausea, cycling was also the only way I felt like myself, and this continues to be the case now.

Things that are making it harder to ride

The Physical Part

Being only in my 15th week, my jacket still zips up over my belly for now, but I’ve had a harder time with finding pants that are fitting well. Mostly this means that it’s a little more difficult make it past my step through bike. It’s not yet the end of the world but it’s something that I’m keeping in mind.

The Emotional Part

Since sharing the news with my family, I get constant reminders from them about ‘not riding a bike anymore’. It’s sad to not have their support but I can see their point - it is dangerous being a pedestrian/cyclist in the city, especially in the winter, with reduced visibility and shorter days. But I have 6 more months to go and bike commuting is a big part of my life. It’s how I get around mostly and something that I really enjoy. It’s been a balance between trying to do what I love but be extra diligent and safe as I’m now expecting.

The Infrastructure

Toronto cycling infrastructure is not good. I’m lucky enough to have bike lanes and protected bike lanes where I live but they are still riddled with potholes and other obstacles. Being in late Fall/early Winter, we just had all the leaves drop but now they are this goopy, icy, slippery mess on the road that further narrows down the lane so that means I’m riding even slower than I would.

A close up view of the late Fall Toronto street - goopy with leaves, potholes and grates.