When Julie Anne Genter, a pregnant New Zealand politician, started experiencing contractions, she and her partner, Peter Nunns, planned to go to the hospital 10 minutes away on a cargo bike together. However, she decided to cycle in labor and "rode herself" out when they figured they might not make it in time.
According to reports, Genter and Nunns agreed to ditch the cargo bike they originally planned to take because her hospital bag was too heavy and could slow them down. The mother said that her contractions were "not super intense" yet, but she knew that it was only a matter of time before these would be close together.
Once she arrived at the Wellington Hospital, Genter was whisked to the delivery room where she had her baby, a healthy girl, after 45 minutes. This was her second baby, as well as her second time to cycle in labor. In 2018, Genter also made headlines when she biked to the hospital to be induced for her first pregnancy.
Not Car Owners
Genter and Nunn do not own any car and mainly get around their city using a bike. The pair are avid cyclists and are advocates for cycling. Genter, who was born in the U.S., is the Green Party's spokesperson for transportation issues.
On her social media pages, Genter proudly displays that she loves bicycles. She has also gotten her 3-year-old firstborn son, Joaquin, hooked on riding a bike. But because of her stance to reduce her family's carbon footprint by not driving a car, the mother said that she had received threatening messages from car owners who wished she would be run over.
The politician said that the comments make her feel vulnerable, especially after Matthew Birchposted on social media that he missed hitting Genter with his car "by 100 points." Birch has since deleted the post after he was referred to Parliament Security, but he claimed it was a joke between him and his friends. He said he did not mean his message to be seen as a threat or harm to the politician, mom, who was in the late stages of her pregnancy at that time.
Safety Advice for Biking While Pregnant
Meanwhile, the American Pregnancy Association said that pregnant mothers might take up biking as a regular exercise activity if they have been doing this before the pregnancy. The APA, however, cautioned moms who are used to cycling not to overdo this routine and stated that a spin class or stationary bike is a lot safer than regular bikes, where moms could risk falling or bumping.
The Mayo Clinic, on the other hand, said that pregnant mothers should have an all-clear from their doctors if they plan to keep biking while pregnant. Cycling provides cardiovascular benefits that may also improve the pregnant body's circulation, increase energy and stamina, and give moms more strength when they go into labor.
