Can I ski while pregnant?
From what I can gather, everyone worries about skiing and physical activity because you could seriously wipe out and miscarry or go in to premature labor.
The further along you get in your pregnancy, the more off-balance you are so the more likely you are to fall. Although the way some sites described it, you would think you have trouble standing up in the last few months so I don't know how much of a danger that really is.
It sounds like you would have to suffer a major trauma (like car accident proportions) to do damage but if you suffer that kind of trauma you have a bit problem anyway. Non?
Pregnancy was an excuse to sit my fat ass on the couch and watch it grow but you may be the athletic type so suit yourself. Speaking of suits, if you do hit the slopes, be sure to wear one of those skin tight performance racer suits – it would be worth it just to see the lift operator's reaction.
search: skiing pregnancy, being active pregnancy, dangerous activities while pregnant
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Reader Comments (6)
My doctor said that sports like skiing, horseback riding, etc. were to be avoided. Her reasoning was that though the baby would most likely be fine if you got hurt, they wouldn't be able to give you pain medication because they are not safe for the baby.
Having broken bones without the option of popping Percs didn't sound like a fun thing for me, so I passed on the polo. And by "polo", I mean hang gliding, biking, walking in high heels, walking to the pantry ("Honey, can you bring me a can of artichokes, please?) and sex.
I agree with Christine. Walking is too dangerous, if you are pregnant. I make my hubby do all the walking for me.
Being a ski instructor I did ski during my pregnancy and until very late 34ish week. Waiting in the lift line was terrible as baby thought that doing calisthenics while I was standing in ski boots was an excellent idea. But the skiing was awesome - how wonderful to go faster than waddling!
I went skiing here in Utah at Snowbird ski resort when I was close to seven months pregnant. I thought I was hardly showing...especially with my husband's ugly blue 1980's ski bibs on - but then a lady in the BATHROOM asked me if I was expecting. I said "Uh huh!" and she commented on how great it was that she thought I was skiing. Mind you, I played it safe and stayed on the bunny hill...and I made my husband try out skis because he is a snowboarder. My friends still laugh because they say I wouldn't allow him to use poles since he was a beginner. I don't remember it, but I can totally see myself doing it. A grown man without poles. I was probably punishing him because he didn't have to give birth.
I would say if you you do fall do call your doc, my hubby and I have different blood types. I had a very light fall at 18 wks and altough there was no cramping or bleeding, I was asked to go to hospital to get a scan and an anti-D injection. Baba is fine but better safe than sorry
It is funny to see the wildly different advice different docs give on this subject.
A friend of mine was told she needs to stop horseback riding NOW (she's in her first trimester), and don't even get near a horse because they might randomly kick her in the stomach.
My old riding instructor rode until she went into labor (literally, her water broke while she was riding). Admittedly, she did cut back on her hardcore riding schedule, and stopped schooling babies/naughty ponies once she started getting big.
My mom, who happens to be an OBGYN, rode when she was pregnant with me until some point during her second trimester (that is clearly why I have been pony-crazy my whole life. ;-)). She said she just didn't feel safe anymore, because her balance was so off. She tells her patients to do what feels comfortable and safe, and that no one knows better than you do what is a dangerous activity (at least when it comes to sports).