Published August 2018
As a woman who struggled to lift her feet high enough to get into the bath well before full-term, I am always astounded by pregnant mums-to-be who just get on with stuff. I mean, I know we’re supposed to (I can hear the internet trolls telling me that woman have been having babies in fields for centuries), but the reality is that not all of us “in the family way” are up for yoga, or dancing, or putting socks on, or picking up anything dropped on the floor …
So when I read that the Minister for Women, Julie Anne Genter, cycled to the hospital for her induction at 42 weeks, I wanted to give her a virtual high five … along with some haemorrhoid cream.
On your bike!
Apparently the choice of transport was just a matter of numbers but Julie Anne is a regular cyclist and finds it to be an easy and quick way to get around to carry out her MP duties.
The Green Party MP later commented that she actually rides an e-bike and that it’s “mostly downhill to the hospital” but with or without a bit of power and gravity assistance, I still think that’s pretty amazing.
The MP and her partner were happy to announce the arrival of their baby boy the following day.
How active were you in the last few weeks of pregnancy? Join our discussion in the comments below.
This blog was written by Julie Scanlon, Editor for Kidspot NZ.
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Wow!! That’s incredible!! Riding a bike two weeks over with a pretty big baby too!! I can’t imagine myself doing that, I can’t really imagine myself riding a bike not pregnant at all though… Putting on shoes was a challenge for me when I was overdue, especially with my last pregnancy and my over 5kg baby!
Gosh she is awesome. What a lady. I’m so happy for her and her partner too. We have some amazing, strong ladies in parliament at the moment. It’s such a joy to see.
Wow that’s awesome! I was told with my first (25 yrs ago) that I had a bicornuate uterus and would go into early labout etc, so left work early and tried to take it easy – ended up 2 weeks overdue and induced haha. With my second 6 years ago I was really active the whole way through, lots of walking up until I was about 36 weeks, ended up 2 weeks early on Boxing Day!!
I am amazing and awed that a woman, at 42 weeks pregnant, rode herself to the hospital on a bike!! That is just wow! I can remember being pregnant with my second child even sitting down was hard enough – I just couldn’t imagine biking to the hospital. Congratulations on the birth of her beautiful baby – may he grow up to as awesome and avid bike rider as Julie Anne is.