When you’re an active person, being restricted in what you can do is tough.
I had no idea how pregnancy was going to affect me, or what limitations it would put on my hobbies. Obviously, things like snowboarding and bouldering weren’t going to happen, but I hadn’t really considered that it might impact my ability to get out hiking or go to the gym.
I’d seen so many posts on social media of women running marathons or smashing it at the gym well into their pregnancies, and I just assumed… I’ll still be able to do what I’m doing now. But that just wasn’t the case.
My very first symptom of pregnancy was breathlessness, just a couple of weeks in. When my first pregnancy ended at around five weeks, that was the only symptom I had. So the second time around, it felt bittersweet. I was excited at the possibility that I might be pregnant again, but I also knew how restrictive that breathlessness had felt in my day-to-day life.
I’ve done my best to keep getting outside throughout my pregnancy. Up until around 36 weeks, I was still managing 5–10km most days on dog walks. But since then, my energy levels have dropped significantly and I’ve been feeling more and more uncomfortable. Aside from those walks, I haven’t really been able to do much in terms of physical activity and I’ve found that really difficult.
It’s felt like a similar time to recovering from knee surgery. Having the time to do all the things you want, but being restricted by the physical. It’s a mental battle trying to push through, and reminding yourself that it’s only temporary.
As the weeks have gone on and I’ve been able to do less and less, I’ve definitely noticed my mental state take a hit. There have been more tears than usual, and moments of low mood where I’ve just sat at home, binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy and felt a bit sorry for myself. It hasn’t helped that I don’t have many local friends, especially people nearby that I could just pop out for a coffee with.
At times, it’s felt like I’ve lost a part of myself. For the last 6 years, adventures have been my escape. They’ve been a time for myself, time to connect, time to process, time to push myself. Not being able to camp, SUP, run or dip has been hard. Though it hasn’t just been pregnancy that’s impacted my adventures, it’s been moving somewhere new, going back to a full time 9-5 and having a busier home life. All of which have happened in a relatively short space of time.
But in the quieter moments, things have started to shift.
I’ve felt a growing connection to baby and it’s given me space to slow down and start imagining what life might look like once he’s here. I’ve been thinking about all the adventures we might go on together and what my maternity leave could actually look like. . A whole year off work, time to nurture a tiny human while introducing him to the world and all the things I love, really does feel like a gift.
Alongside that, I’ve been on the lookout for other adventure mums, women who are out there doing amazing things with their little ones. Seeing what’s possible has been so inspiring and has reminded me that this phase of feeling stuck is only temporary.
More recently, I’ve started finding groups to join too. One I’m especially excited about is Blaze Trails. My brother and sister-in-law, as well as a few friends, have been on walks with them and all have such positive things to say. After I’ve been to a few, I’d love to eventually volunteer and host some myself. I’ve also signed up to the Peanut app, hoping to meet other mums at a similar stage who share that same love for the outdoors and adventure.
My longer term goal is to get out on a long-distance hike with baby, even if it’s just for a day, and eventually, a wild camp. I know it’s going to take time, patience, and a fair bit of preparation, but just thinking about getting back to those kinds of adventures fills me with excitement.
I’ve definitely felt like a part of me has been missing throughout pregnancy, especially in these later months. But as I head into the final few weeks, I feel something else growing alongside that, excitement.
This next chapter is going to be a whole new kind of adventure.
If you have any tips for getting out with a baby, or suggestions of other adventure mums to check out, then please do let me know.
You can follow along with all the adventures on Tiktok and Instagram
L x
Lisa Outdoors 
Leave a comment