Skiing in early pregnancy- Would you? Have you?

[jemimafuddleduck]

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

This is all a bit hypothetical really as who knows what will happen in the future etc but I’m looking for opinions on this...

We are planning to TTC our first baby around end of October 2018. We are also committed to a ski holiday over Christmas 2018. IF I got pregnant on the first go (unlikely, I know), I’m guessing I’d be around 8 weeks pregnant, maximum.

I’m a fairly experienced skier, but like to ski at a leisurely pace and wouldn’t be racing around/doing jumps/off piste etc. I rarely fall (but sometimes do!)

I appreciate you can never foresee accidents - other people skiing into you etc...

WIBU to still ski? At that stage, would my risks be ridiculously high if I were to fall? Or would it be negligible?

Sorry if anyone thinks I’m crazy here but looking for honest opinions/experiences.

I would not go skiing if your pregnant at the time. Before 12 weeks is the most dangerous in pregnancy

We found out I was pregnant whilst on the second day of a skiing trip, I think I was about 5/6 weeks. I carried on although was pretty nervous about falling over, but to be honest I felt so sick and tired the whole time I wished I was at home in my own bed. Personally I would wait until after Christmas, then start trying!

No way. I can ski very well and I slipped on ice on the button lift on the nursery slope and fell really badly.

Before 12 weeks is the safest time for skiing as the baby is protected by your pelvis and (as my obstetrician said) you would have to smash yourself up pretty badly before you damaged the baby. But obviously up to 12 weeks is the most likely time to miscarry - obviously if this happened it wouldn’t be as a result of skiing but could still be more of a trial in a resort/ foreign hospital.
I skied at about 12 weeks, fell (superman double eject because I hit unexpected powder - I am a very competent skier but shit happens) and have a brain damaged baby. The two facts are not definitively linked, but frankly no one can say for sure.

Skiing when pregnant ..... of course not, how bloody stupid.

Before 12 weeks is not 'the most dangerous' it's just where the likelihood of miscarriage is highest because of any developmental issues. Going skiing will have no impact whatsoever on that, if it's going to happen it will happen even if you sit with your feet up for the entire 12 weeks.

In 2 out of 3 of my pregnancies I wouldn't have been fit to go skiing at 8 weeks. I felt nauseous and exhausted and I just wanted to go to bed at every opportunity.

In the third pregnancy I could have done it no problem, I would have just been annoyed I couldn't join in with the drinking.

You can't put your life on hold though. Carry on with your plans and adapt them if you have to.

Thanks for your replies! That’s the thing - accidents can happen so easily can’t they.

The holiday was something we agreed to after a few too many sherries at Christmas and was booked before we had chance to really think about it.

I went at 9 weeks. I took it steady and was fine. Then I got home and had my booking in appointment with the midwife, who wasn't particularly impressed! In the early stages you don't have a bump, so baby is pretty well protected.

However, if you're going skiing at Christmas, the sensible thing would be to just wait and start ttc once you return.

It’s interesting to see different opinions. It may not even be an issue come December as I know I’d be very lucky to fall pregnant so quickly if we did go ahead and try! And like PP say I may feel too poorly anyway... And couldn’t even enjoy a Vin Chaud!!

Try for a baby on the holiday. Then you can call it Chamonix.

I probably wouldn't. You don't know how your body will feel. Sickness is very common, my belly hurt to any fabric pressing on it during my first pregnancy, tiredness, food aversions.... And of course the risk of falling (although this wouldn't be the biggest one for me in early pregnancy). Anyway, good luck with ttc

Chamonix!! Hahaha. Perfect

I found out I was expecting DD the day before we went snowboarding. I tested because I just had a feeling I was (unplanned pregnancy), and I wanted to know if I needed to lay off the apres. I took things easier than normal, stayed out of the parks but still went through the half pipe a few times, it was a great trip. DD is now a smashing 6 yr old. I'm not sure I would have planned a ski trip if we had planned on TTC mind.

Does skiings professional body have anything written about it?

I rock climbed during pregnancy (but not as much as I had hoped due to HG kicking in early and lingering late), it's perfectly safe with reasonable adaptations made.

However, what I didn't predict was how being pregnant (even very early) would effect me mentally, and I was certainly noticeably more anxious/ cautious, and this impacted on my enjoyment.

I think the baby would be perfectly safe unless you had a very serious accident BUT having lost a baby myself, I suspect if anything happened you would find it hard to forgive yourself. It's quite difficult to avoid self-blame after a miscarriage at the best of times.

Quite aside from that, you are likely to be feeling a bit rough! I could barely go to work during the first 14 weeks and was vomiting two or three times a day. It was horrid!

I did ski when I was pregnant. I'd booked the holiday before I knew. I shared your concern and went straight to see the Gp who advised me that I'd be completely fine, it was within the first trimester. I did feel nauseous, I'm not sure if it was altitude or morning sickness, and did feel tired. I also ate cheese which I didn't realise was unpasteurised, which terrified me when I realised. The child I was carrying is now a superbly healthy 16 year old who absolutely adores skiing (I haven't skied for several years due to a knee injury). The bit I found hardest when I was skiing whilst pregnant is that a couple in my ski school were openly telling me that they'd unsuccessfully tried for children for 12 years (they kept telling me to relax but there was no way I could tell them why I was cautious!).

I wouldn't, no.

But it's all totally hypothetical now, right. You can't put your life on hold when ttc, so I wouldn't stress about it until you actually know you're pregnant.

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the balanced, non-judgemental viewpoints.

We are an active couple and keep planning on TTC then some kind of event comes up which means it keeps getting pushed back and back.

I just don’t want to keep postponing it forever!

I was pregnant with my eldest in Florida. Had no idea. She was a surprise. I drank litres of Long Island Ice Tea & road every single roller coaster with big “do not ride if you are pregnant” signs. I did wonder why I had a migraine queuing for the Hulk & why my mouth resembled Dracula every morning though. Thought it was the change of water.

DD is choosing her GCSE options this year & wants to be a doctor. She’s a whizz at Science & Languages. No harm done.

One caveat re skiing would be whether or not you’ll feel up to it if you get morning sickness and obviously it’ll be bad news if you break a bone. Maybe stick to the blue & green runs. Also I don’t know whether or not the lack of oxygen at altitude is a wise idea particularly if you are feeling crook. My DC always get nose bleeds on the first night.

And don’t do it heavily preggers obviously. Your centre of gravity is all over the place.

Not called an extreme sports for nothing. Also you get some idiots out there you have to be wary of.

I went on a booked-and-paid-for skiing trip at 7 weeks pg. I took it steady and sought out quiet pistes. And my technique has never been so good!
(I’m normally an off piste mogul basher).

Meh, I didn't even know I was pregnant until I was 18 weeks so I did all of the things and ate all of the things and drank all of the things.
It's all hypothetical. See how you feel and what you feel comfortable and uncomfortable with. Good luck

Sorry rode. And having read the OP again, I wouldn’t try because you just don’t know how you are going to feel. If something happens then as someone else said, you’d feel terrible. 8 weeks is still prime miscarriage territory & you don’t want to be experiencing that half way up a mountain.

My friend did last year, stuck to bunny runs and one or two easy blues... avoided pull lifts and those weird conveyorbelt ones and was fine. Not for everyone mind.

I skied up to 16 weeks (taking it easy) with my first. I'm first trimester now and going just after new year. I'll be getting a limited area pass and taking it gently. I do have a heightened sense of consequence, but mainly I'll be being careful because I've been so much sicker this time and I'm just not as fit. Last time I was still cycling to work. I can barely walk upstairs some mornings this time.