Feb 25 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Lyn Barraza Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

For those of you who know Lyn Barraza, you know that she is one of those superhuman people. She has more energy than I've seen in just about any human being. She tries harder and longer than almost anyone at the crags, and has an infectiously psyched attitude.   She also runs one of the most successful climbing gyms in the country, Berkeley Ironworks, and is a member of the Access Fund Board of Directors.   Last year she had her second child, Conrad, and her pregnancy didn't seem to slow her down a bit. In December,...

Read More
Feb 21 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Month 5: Tradwalking, Falling and Finally Getting Real

Climbing, Pregnancy, Yosemite
by Beth

Month five started my best couple months yet in pregnancy. I think it was the openness that I finally gave to the pregnancy. Being able to share and talk about it with other people was more relieving than I ever imagined. With the announcement of our pregnancy, I've been learning how excited some people get about kids. Some people are over the moon about kids and others are a "normal" amount of excited. I find it really interesting and sweet to see who all these people are in my life.   It's...

Read More
Feb 18 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Steph Davis Interview – Decisions About Having Kids

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood
by Beth

Steph Davis is one of the most accomplished female climbers of the past 20 years. She has established routes in the mountains of Pakistan, to first free ascents on El Cap, to hard routes in the desert. On top of all of that, she has one of the best blogs out there and runs Moab B.A.S.E Adventures. She also is a great friend of mine. I have interviewed several women climbers and how they dealt with pregnancy and having children. I wanted to interview Steph about her decision around having kids/not having kids....

Read More
Feb 12 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Thoughts and perspective from Jasmin in Italy

Climbing, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

Best wishes for your pregnancy from Italy (I'm based in Milan, but originally from the Dolomites) Jasmin & Elia  Hi Jasmin -   Thank you so much for your very thoughtful message and information. I think women in the US will find your perspective very valuable and interesting. I know that I always thought European women and mothers had access to much more information and acceptance while climbing during pregnancy and with children. I'm sorry to hear that it's not necessarily the case!   I will say that at least in California where I am located,...

Read More
Feb 10 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Month 4: Banff, Amnios, and Breaking the News

Climbing, Pregnancy
by Beth

I never thought taking a bite of an apple would be scary, but there I was, staring down a bright red apple, wondering if that first bite would send me running to the toilet. I took a bite. It tasted … delicious!   About two weeks into the second trimester my nausea had totally subsided. It wasn't like a switch turned off one day, but over the course of a week or two I began to feel like my old self again. Colors flooded my diet again: greens from leafy vegetables, reds...

Read More
Feb 06 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Month 3: First Trimester Done

Climbing, Motherhood, Pregnancy, Yosemite
by Beth

Most people said the nausea would likely be gone by the end of the first trimester. But there was always a chance the I’d be one of those unlucky women who were sick throughout their pregnancy. As the end of the first trimester approached, I felt a mix of hope and dread. Luckily, as my third month came to a end, so did my daily bouts of sickness. It took about two weeks to fully fade out, but then it was gone. Yipee skipee, no more nausea! The relief of...

Read More
Feb 04 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Lynn Hill Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

When I was 19 years old I met the legendary Lynn Hill. I had just completed my first 5.14 at Smith Rock in Oregon, To Bolt Or Not To Be, when Lynn invited me to go to Madagascar with her, Nancy Feagin and Kath Pyke. Being more famous that most male climbers, Lynn has accomplished things decades ahead of her time. With her free ascent of the Nose, numerous 5.14's, first ascents on different continents, her list of accomplishments is endless. I was completely humbled that such a legend would...

Read More
Jan 30 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Month 2: Sickness, Heartbeats and a Nikon Photo Shoot

Climbing, Pregnancy
by Beth

As I crept into the second month I started to think about being pregnant a lot more.  My harness had to be let out a bit, but other than that, I thought I was doing a good job of hiding my belly. Though most people probably didn’t notice, it felt really weird to be getting rounder. Normally in the past if I got rounder, it was because I indulged too much on my favorite food or treat, or laid on the couch too often :) But now, this was normal....

Read More
Jan 27 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

This is the first of several interviews of women who climbed during pregnancy. If I've learned anything from climbing and pregnancy, it's that there is a huge range of how people feel. Some women have been able to maintain a high activity level throughout their pregnancy and others feel so terrible that they are sidelined for months at a time. Even different pregnancies with the same women can vary drastically. I know that I am climbing far below my "normal" climbing level and frequency well into my second trimester. Robyn...

Read More
Jan 23 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Month One: How to Listen to your Body

Climbing, Pregnancy
by Beth

It's very interesting to me to look back on the first couple months and see how hard it was for me, what a different mind set I was in with the unknowns and worries, coupled with the sickness and physical changes. I'm glad that I documented this when I was going through it, even though it was a difficult space to be in.   We found out the day after Max died. The first pregnancy test read positive. Then so did the second. One of the saddest times of my life was crashing...

Read More