Pregnancy Isn’t the End of Adventure
It’s Actually a Whole New One
When I first found out I was pregnant, I immediately started thinking about all the ways my life would change. One of the biggest questions was how my outdoor pursuits would evolve during pregnancy. Spending time outside and moving my body in the fresh air has always been essential to me – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I promised myself I would stay active throughout pregnancy, even if it looked different than before.
Pregnancy comes with so many variables outside your control, so I decided early on that the only measure of success was simply doing my best. Long gone were the days of tracking pace, watts, and heart rate. I had to shift my mindset from performance to experience and enjoyment. Once I let go of expectations, I found a whole new appreciation for being outside.
The Only Constant Is Change
One of the greatest lessons pregnancy taught me was adaptability – something that would later become invaluable in parenthood. One week I felt amazing: full of energy, moving comfortably, and eager to be active. The next: I was taking daily naps and dealing with lower back pain.
As someone who prides herself on consistency, accepting the constant changes was difficult. It became nearly impossible to stick to a strict workout routine or training plan. Eventually, I stopped working against my body and started listening to it instead. If running felt good, I ran. If running caused hip pain, I switched to cross-country skiing. If I felt terrible overall, I rested.
Pregnancy taught me that slowing down can be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is take a rest day.
Learning to adapt quickly (and not get hung up on consistency) was one of the best lessons I could have learned before becoming a mom. Now, with a 9-month-old and an ever-changing routine, I’m much more comfortable focusing on hiking one week and biking the next. As long as I’m moving my body outside, I’m happy.
How I Stayed Active
First and foremost, consult with your medical team for guidance on staying active during pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different, and everyone has their own considerations. I was fortunate to have a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy that allowed me to continue many activities with some adjustments.
Hiking
While hiking may be the gateway that gets many of us into the outdoors, we often move on to faster or more technical pursuits like trail running or mountain biking. During pregnancy, with risk mitigation in mind, I found myself returning to hiking.
The uphill movement relieved pain in my back and hips, I could go at any pace, and trail options made it easy to adjust based on how I felt that day. I always packed extra snacks and water and gave myself permission to rest whenever needed. I gained a whole new appreciation for hiking during pregnancy and was able to continue until 41 weeks.
Pro tip: a trail running vest works surprisingly well with a pregnant belly.
Fly Fishing
One of the unexpected highlights of my pregnancy was falling in love with fly fishing. During our babymoon, we spent several days on Montana’s Missouri River catching trout. Spending long days outside (with unlimited snack storage) felt incredible.
Fly fishing was one activity where being pregnant didn’t really change the experience, which was refreshing during a time when your body constantly feels different. I borrowed my husband’s waders, spent hours on the river, and had the best time. Pregnancy can still be a season for trying new things.
Skiing
My first trimester lined up with peak ski season, so I worked with my doctor to figure out a level of skiing we both felt comfortable with. Risk tolerance changes when you’re about to become a parent, and this was my first real experience navigating that shift.
After a big overnight storm in Montana, I knew I wanted one more backcountry day while I still could. With plenty of snacks packed, we headed out for an easy tour with low avalanche risk. I felt strong on the skin track and grateful to be outside moving through the mountains. We even took pregnancy announcement photos at the top!
Considerations to Make
Hydration & Nutrition
Pregnancy made fueling non-negotiable. I always carried extra snacks, electrolytes, and more water than I thought I’d need – even on shorter outings. Eating before getting hungry made a huge difference in my energy levels.
Temperature & Altitude
I became much more mindful of overheating, especially during the summer, and often started activities early in the morning. Higher elevations also affected me more while pregnant, so I paid close attention to how my body responded.
Safety & Risk Tolerance
Pregnancy shifted how I approached risk. I became more comfortable turning around, choosing lower-consequence adventures, and skipping activities that no longer felt worth it. I knew this wasn’t the season for mountain biking or trail running, and accepting that made it easier to fully enjoy the activities I could still do.
What Pregnancy Taught Me About Adventure
Staying active outside throughout pregnancy made the experience far more enjoyable, but it also taught me lessons I now carry into motherhood. I learned that adventure doesn’t always need a summit or a big objective to be meaningful. Slowing down helped me notice more, appreciate more, and trust myself more.
Most importantly, I realized the outdoors aren’t just part of who I am anymore – they’re now part of my child’s story too.
Your outdoor pursuits may look different during pregnancy, but different doesn’t mean diminished.
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