[Shotgun93]

Don't worry, the third trimester is nature's way of making you ready. You'll see.

Isn't that the truth!!

[doublebarr]

Speaking as a mom of 4 who was responsible for the horses on the ranch throughout each pregnancy, it can be done!! So have heart.

I did have the horses right here at home though, so that helps. And my first was a C-section. I was riding (much to the doctors dismay) 2 weeks after delivery of that one. But riding is where I wanted to be and if it hurt, I quit. It didn't hurt tooo much. And with each child, I rode up until my belly was to big to dally the rope. Doctor didn't mind that. Like Shotgun, she said, if my body was used to it, then it would be fine. However, in the last 2 trimesters I did not ride the stupid colts but stuck to just riding the finished horses to do what work needed to be done. And I invested in a really good set of baby monitors, so I could go out to the barn (just out the back door) while the kids were sleeping and get my chores done when it was cold. When it was warm, I took the playpen and set it outside the pens and rode all day.

It really is a mindset thing. If you set your mind to making it work without stressing over putting a set time to when something has to be done, then you can make it work. If morning feeding falls somewhere between 8 and 10 and you don't stress over it being the exact same time every day, then it will work.

Oh, and riding the good horses with the baby strapped in one of those front carriers is a wonderful way to put them to sleep

[ches]

Originally Posted by doublebarr

Oh, and riding the good horses with the baby strapped in one of those front carriers is a wonderful way to put them to sleep

That's it. If I end up with a colicy baby I'm coming to visit.

[Jr.pie]

You'll be fine. Women are the strong ones remember that, we are the ones who keep going no matter what, we are the ones when stuck at home with 3 kids(ahem! like me) who don't get a vacation. You will always find a way to do what needs to be done one way or another, you may get tired you may get sick but you will always go on and take care of those who need you and depend on you. I rode right up until I was due and past due with all three of my girls I was huge and miserable as a matter of fact I used to trot around on my moms old appy who had the most awefully choppy trot to try to induce labor!!!! Needless to say it didn't work, I still had to be drug induced at the hospital. But I never had to worry about miscarriage or anything my pregnancies were always more than stable. So I suggest consulting with your doctor, making sure everything is OK, and when you go out to feed make sure you straighten you back every few shovel fulls of bedding, take your time, and try to get a hose to go to each stalls water bucket to eliminate carrying heavy water buckets. It may take you 2 or 3 times as long to get the job done but you'll get it done for the love of your horses.

Yeah I second what doublebarr said about the babymonitors and the playpens!!! Also a sawdust pile makes a great occupier for a toddler as I now am going through with my youngest. But my mom used to let me play in the sawdust while she was feeding and doing barn chores when I was little.

[cassidy]

well when i was pregnant i leased mine out...

but there is always ways you manage to do your hroses whena baby comes along

the thing is you will over annalize an worrie to much about it but when the baby comes you will cope!!! you have to so you will

us women are tough cookies you no we are muti tasked what can i say

[CowGirlUp1833]

Have not been pregnant, but did have full custody of my 2 former step children for 5 years. Its HARD to stay involved with horses when you have kids....time and energy seem to run out soooo fast! If its important to you though, you'll find a way.

Best wishes to you and please be careful!!

[Jr.pie]

OH yeah and the funniest thing my 2 yr old Kailyn did the other day she insisted on going to the barn with me to clean stalls, I said OK, we can do this, she started grabbing his road apples and tossing them in the wheelbarrow, I kept shooing her away from the stall, but every time one rolled out accidentally she grabbed it and threw it in the barrow. Needless to say we used lots of soap and water when we got back to the house!!!

JR just loves her to pieces though, I mean whatever rotten things he may do to an adult, I don't think he would ever do to her, he nips & nibbles me but doesn't ever show his teeth to her, she hugs him on whichever front leg she can grab, and he stands like a statue. It's just incredible the change in him when she's around, I mean of course if there were a chance of him being spooked I wouldn't trust him at all, but under safe controlled circumstances thats his baby, they are funny together, at such opposite ends of the size chart- he makes her look the size of a newborn. Kailyn loves riding with me, she throws a fit when it's time to quit she gets so mad, and tries to hang on to the saddle for her life, I literally have to pry her away. But enough of that I have rambled big time, It was just such a cute tidbit while we were on the subject of babies and horses.