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Pregnant women and winter sports

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: unsplash.com

You love winter sports, but you are pregnant and wonder if you can keep practicing them or you have to give them up, until you give a birth.

In fact, no one can forbid you to practice your favorite winter sports, but you will hardly find a doctor who would recommend you to do it.

We say this not because we want to stop you from doing sports during your pregnancy, but because some of the winter sports can be dangerous for both you and the baby you are carrying.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: pixabay.com

Pregnant women and winter sports – Which sports you can practice and which are not recommended?

Skiing and snowboarding

Even if you have extensive experience in skiing or snowboarding, these winter sports can be risky for both you and your baby.

Why?

In the first place, they require balance, and it is difficult to achieve it, because during pregnancy the changes in your body are quite big. Your tommy grows, your flexibility decreases, your movements become slower and you gain weight.

All these changes shift your center of balance and you risk falling, which can lead not only to injury but also to miscarriage.

In addition, if you fall, you risk getting a fracture more easily, because while you are pregnant your baby draws on your calcium stores and your bones are more fragile.

Something more, during the pregnancy, your oxygen consumption increases steadily to meet your baby’s oxygen needs in your womb. In order to cope, your body releases hormones that help your lungs to “work” better.

At normal altitude this is not a problem, but at an altitude of 1500 – 1800 meters you will begin to feel the lack of oxygen, because at this altitude the air is more dilute. And as you know, the tracks are located at higher altitudes, which means that you will breathe harder and harder.

And yet: You can consult with the doctor who monitors your pregnancy and if he allows, you can practice skiing during the first four months of pregnancy.

It is good if you decide to go skiing, to choose quiet winter resorts, to ride on tracks for beginners (without large slopes) and to go down only when there are not many people on the track.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: unsplash.com

Skating or figure skating

As a mother-to-be, it’s a good idea to forget about skating until you give birth. We advise you to do this, because falling on the ice can have very serious consequences both for you and the baby you carry.

And yet: As we have just noted, skating or figure skating during pregnancy is not recommended, but if you still decide to practice it, it is good to do it only during the first three months of pregnancy.

Skate with high care and choose slides that are not crowded. Stop practicing your favorite winter sport as soon as you pass the first three months.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: unsplash.com

Sledding

This is another winter sport that you should quit while you are pregnant. Sledding is dangerous for the fetus that grows inside you, as the speed at which the sleds descend is quite high, and abrupt stops and falls from the sled are among the things you can’t predict.

Recommendations

If you are with friends or family on a holiday in the mountains, it is better to let them have fun with the sleds, while you are staying in the resort and having a good, pleasant and unburdening walk. Don’t risk getting hurt unnecessarily and then regretting it for the rest of your life.

Ski-running

Cross-country skiing is one of the few winter sports that you can practice until the sixth and beginning of the seventh month of pregnancy.

In fact, this winter sport can be quite useful for expectant mothers, as it “works” for all muscle groups in the body and helps breathing.

Recommendations

Practice cross-country skiing at medium altitudes and on moderate slopes. Do not overdo it and often take breaks in which you drink enough water. Eat some protein bars. When you enter the seventh month, stop cross-country skiing and limit yourself to walking.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: pixabay.com

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a great sporting activity to practice during the pregnancy. We say that because it is safer than the other winter sports and you can practice it literally until the day before birth.

It is also a good workout, as it puts more strain on the muscles of the legs, buttocks and inner thighs than normal walking.

Recommendations

If you have never practiced snowshoeing before, walk only on flat terrain to reduce to a minimum the risk of falling. When choosing snowshoes, it is good to take into account your weight, the terrain on which you will use them and their shape and “buoyancy”. 

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: unsplash.com

Video: https://maternitycomfortsolutions.com/is-snowboarding-safe-during-pregnancy/ 

Precautions that are good to take when you are in the mountains

Choose a winter resort that is located at medium altitude

As we said above, the higher you are, the harder it will be for you to breathe because the air is more dilute. To feel comfortable and convenient during your vacation, before booking a hotel, make a search at what altitude the resort is located.

Go outside well equipped

In the mountains, temperatures drop suddenly. That’s why it’s good to wear warm, waterproof clothes when you go out of the hotel. Bring a small backpack with an extra pair of warm wool socks, a sweater, a hat and gloves.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: pixabay.com

Beware of the sun’s rays

In expectant mothers, sun exposure, among other harms, can cause brown spots on the face. Therefore, it is good to use a high-factor sunscreen whenever you go outdoors.

If you can, limit your time spent out during the hours when the sun shines brighter and remember that the amount of UV rays increases by 10% for every 1000 meters above sea level.

Eat well

Pregnancy, altitude adaptation, and extra physical activity require you to increase your intake of antioxidants and micronutrients. In other words, it is good for your menu to be balanced and with the presence of all food groups, as this is good for both you and your baby.

If you go for a walk in the mountains, always carry enough water, a sandwich or at least a protein bar, chocolate or biscuits in your backpack.

Pregnant women and winter sports

Photo source: unsplash.com

Always consult your doctor

Whether you want to practice your favorite winter sport or want to relax in a winter resort, before doing anything we advise you to consult your doctor.
As he monitors your pregnancy from the first day, he can give you the best guidance on which of the winter sports you can practice, till which month of your pregnancy can practice it and whether a mountain holiday is right for you at this time.