Booking a ski holiday while TTC

[LoveInAColdClimate]

Am sure this must have been covered before but can't find it... would you book a skiing holiday while TTC?

We will probably start TTC late next year, and are dithering over whether or not to book a skiing holiday with friends for January 2011 (yes, I know we are planning very early!).

I know there's a good chance I won't be pregnant by then, but you never know... I am worried about putting our lives on hold in case it takes us ages to conceive, but I'm also wary of risking being booked on a trip when pregnant.

If I am pregnant by then, would you ski in the early stages of pregnancy?

Help! Thanks.

[skihorse]

I started TTC in November 2008 and at that point had a ski trip in Norway in the January and Colorado the february. I was convinced that I'd be able to ski "that" pregnant. As nature took its course I didn't get a sticky until November 2009

I'd wanted to go in Jan of this year but found my plans of skiing were totally scuppered not by choice or nerves but by the fact I couldn't walk across the fucking room without clutching on to something because of losing my balance - didn't see much point flying anywhere to sit in a hotel room puking & sobbing!

My friends are flying out to Tahoe this week and I'm 18 weeks... I probably could ski BUT if I were to ski at 18 weeks I'd rather do it at a quieter resort than Tahoe. Revelstoke in January rather than Les Trois Vallees in half-term if you see what I mean.

So no, I wouldn't put my life on hold - but at the same time I wouldn't book a January holiday in JUne if I started TTC in June!

[LoveInAColdClimate]

Thanks, skihorse - perhaps I won't chance it and will do a nice beach holiday instead next year! There's plenty of time for skiing in the future...

[skihorse]

I think it's a shame you say you "wouldn't chance it" - there's nothing to be chanced until you are pregnant and what with each and every pregnancy being different only you will know if you're fit enough or not.

The only advice I can give is book it as late as possible - like I said, it'd be madness to book a holiday when there's a possibility that you might be 7 months by that stage... and do not put your life on hold. What if TTC takes longer than you thought? How many year's skiing are you prepared to miss?

[BaconWheatCrunchies]

You're much more likely to get pregnant if it's going to mess up a holiday in my twisted mind.

I skied at 15 weeks, we booked after I found out, DH didn't really see it as a problem. I had a great excuse to just ski mornings and have lovely relaxing afternoons away from all my in laws (there were about 12 of us).

I think skihorse is right re the late booking, but I wouldn't put everything on hold.

[skihorse]

Bacon raises an excellent point - you will conceive when it is least convenient.

It's pretty much a guarantee that you'll be asked to be a bridesmaid when you'll be 36 weeks pregnant. Or you'll get a great job offer...

[greygirl]

skiing whe preggers is difficult - some people say it is ok before before 10 weeks because your wonb is still inside you pelvis, so in theory protected. lots of people do ski at varying points of pregnany, which i think is a measure of how confident they are skiing. i don't think many beginners do.
also if you are in any way worried about conceiving, i wouldn't ski, because if 1 small fall happens and you miscarry, you will always blame yourself (whether it is true or not). i had a friend who worried about whether the ironing had caused her miscarriage...
however i would book the leave from work at the very least - you can then book late and go or announce a change of plan and head to paris on the eurostar....

[grenadine]

I would book the holiday if you are likely to be less than 12 weeks pregnant by the time you go. Until you TTC you don't know if you will fall pregnant first time or it will take months so don't try and plan things too much otherwise you could end up missing skiing holidays for years. I would ski if less than 12 weeks but not beyond this stage.
Try and book accommodation with a decent swimming pool so that if you are not able to ski you will have an alternative. See if the resort has any lifts pedestrians can take so you could get a lift up and enjoy a hot chocolate in a mountain restaurant.

[BaconWheatCrunchies]

When I discussed with my MW about skiing whilst pregnant it seemed to be the better you are the faster you go and more risk of more serious damage.

I'm only an intermediate skier and just took it slowly all week. I was 15 weeks and had a bit of a bump but still felt he would've been well protected if I fell. But I was so cautious all week I didn't!

[Heathcliffscathy]

I just ski'd at 14 weeks...was with instructor most of the time and took it easy, it was fab!

[fluffles]

you don't have to go faster if you're a better skier.. i am a confident skier on black runs, moguls etc. and yet i'm also quite capable of pootling down a green run at snails pace while supporting beginners.

i would ski pregnant, up till i couldn't get into my ski jacket anymore.. but we'd probably go for a last minute deal anyway so i could delay a bit if very sick.

[skihorse]

Tbh as an experienced skiier I'd feel safer off-piste away from the numpties tearing out of the bars out-of-control on the "main" pistes.

[orienteerer]

Go for it, DS was conceived on a ski holiday

[hicommand1]

Not sure if this helps at all but I have just come back from a weeks skiing (and drinking ) and confirmed my suspicions that I am pregnant - about 7 weeks I think. I booked the holiday in December and even tho we were theoretically going to start trying for another baby this year I thought we had avoided the critical time in January, but obviously not. I too booked intermediate/advance lessons as hadnt been for awhile so spent most of the time with the instructor in the mornings which was reassuring and I didn't have any falls. Some afternoons I was too tired to ski but it was quite nice to relax in the chalet anyway. I think it was ok to do this before the tiredness/nausea sets in but I am not sure if I would have been up for it in a few weeks time. Seeing how often the beginners in our party had massive wipeouts I dont think I would do it as a beginner either.

Saying that, as others said, best laid plans etc etc - you can't put your life on hold.