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Original poster

My pregnant friend has just had a skiing accident...

167 replies

pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 18:55

I am furious with her and her DP. Well, I am now I know she and baby are ok.

She has fractured her leg, skiiing in USA, while 16 weeks pg.

She has never been skiing before, thought it would be a good time to try, seeing her dp insisted she would be fine (apparantly gp said it was ok). And now she is likely to be in USA for a few weeks before she can fly home.

How could she put herself and her unborn child in danger like that?

I did not put this in AIBU, because to be honest, I don't think I am. I feel very cross.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 07/03/2009 18:57

Well, I wouldn't have done it, but it's her body and their baby.

Will you tell her off?

abbierhodes · 07/03/2009 18:58

I agree with you. My preganant cousin is smoking, and it makes me really cross. Your unborn child is worth a few small sacrifices IMO

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:00

bigtillymint - yes of course I will tell her off! If DH lets me talk to her on the phone. He is hogging it!

She is in her 30's, not like she has never had a chance to do this, or will never have a chance again, seeing as they are visiting family who now live there...

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 07/03/2009 19:01

Having a broken leg and being pregnant will be crap. Hope it gets better soon.

KerryMumbles · 07/03/2009 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rubyslippers · 07/03/2009 19:03

well i am sure she feels awful too

please don't tell her off - she will be beating herself up about it

she must be very upset as it is

bigTillyMint · 07/03/2009 19:04

Yes - she's got her comeuppance having a broken leg and being pg.

Did you warn her not to go? If you did then you can say "I told you so!"

Uriel · 07/03/2009 19:05

The last thing I'd want in her position right now, is a friend telling me off!

JaneSeymour · 07/03/2009 19:05

Erm, the baby is Ok, presumably? I've never heard of skiing being a dangerous thing to do in early pregnancy, but I might be ignorant.

Hope she isn't at increased risk of blood clot etc though

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:06

In reality she will get lots of support from me too, of course. When she finally gets back from USA. Does not stop me feeling furious. She could have killed herself/her baby. We had a chat before she went about risks etc, and exactly what you said about how shit it would be with a breakage or muscle injury while pg, in particular I had a chat with her DP as I felt he was encouraging her to be reckless because he wanted to do it. He promised he would insist she apre ski more than ski.

Seems like she hit black ice or something (not that I know sod all about skiing).

OP posts:
tribpot · 07/03/2009 19:07

God, thank goodness she's okay - and the baby too. And hope that she's insured/her insurance will cover any treatment related to the pregnancy, that would be a significant worry in the States (or I guess anywhere outside the UK?)

It does seem like a rather daft choice to me, but the balance of risk is fairly low, almost you would think a beginner on the baby slopes would be less at risk than a slightly-more-experienced skier on the big slopes. Her dp sounds like a bit of a tosser for "insisting" she would be fine - there's a reason why basic travel insurance doesn't cover ski-ing, after all.

Bear in mind she's almost certainly beating herself up mentally far more than you will be able to do, I wouldn't be too hard on her when you speak.

KerryMumbles · 07/03/2009 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:08

Jane - of course skiing is dangerous when pregnant - it can be dangerous when not pregnant!!! Every time my friends go skiing, some-one has an injury of some degree...any injury will be horrendous when pg.

I am not saying she should have stopped living when pregnant, but perhaps chosen a better time to take up such an active and risky new hobby.

OP posts:
Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:11

Jane - yes baby is fine. I would not be furious if baby was not fine, I would just be worried. But now I know they are both fine (well, friend relatively fine) I have allowed myself to be furious!

More so, as there is nothing I can do over there. If she was here and had an accident, she would have us here to rally around her and sort her out.

Not sure about insurance - I expect if she is not covered, dp's father will sort something out.

OP posts:
belgo · 07/03/2009 19:13

I wonder if her health insurance covered her for being pregnant?

And she will be at high risk of DVT, being pregnant, immobile ahd having a transatlantic flight to look forward to.

Skiing is a high risk sport. There are plenty if idiots on the slopes that cause accidents. It's not something I would risk during pregnancy.

GossipMonger · 07/03/2009 19:17

what a silly woman!

It is the only thing I have not done since I had children. I love skiing but since I had the boys I just felt that it was too dangerous to risk getting an injury.

I know that injuries come from all sort of things but the thought of having to cope with a broken arm or leg and having children on top of that was too much for me!

Not that I judge anyone who does ski with children.

When the boys are a bit older I would love to take them skiing.

TotalChaos · 07/03/2009 19:18

agree with belgo. v. unwise to go for the first time when PG. and hope she has very good medical insurance.

JaneSeymour · 07/03/2009 19:19

Sorry, I am obv ignorant and a dick, I take it back! I know nothing about skiing, have never been...I did used to ride a motorbike when pregnant, which was probably stupid. Nobody told me not to, I wish someone had cared enough tbh.

JaneSeymour · 07/03/2009 19:21

I don't ride any more - stopped when dc was a toddler. It just got too risky, I felt guilty, couldn't do it.

Maybe when he is much older I'll start again.

belgo · 07/03/2009 19:22

The first time I went skiing I was in a chalet with 10 people. Out of those ten one woman broke her leg, one man fell and got concussion, and I came home with a few large bruises.

traceybath · 07/03/2009 19:24

She was mad - do you think she was doing that whole 'oh my lifes not going to change just because i'm having a baby thing?'

Her DH also sounds a prize twit - surely his role should have been to talk her out of it not egg her on.

Not sure i'd tell her off though - i think she'll have well and truly realised her mistake.

spicemonster · 07/03/2009 19:27

I wouldn't say anything but I think it's a bit silly. I'm a very experienced skier and have cancelled ski holidays when pregnant. As someone else said, it's not just your own competency you need to worry about, it's everyone else's. Incidentally over the course of my 25 years of skiing I've torn ligaments twice, sprained my ankle twice, chipped a bone and had innumerable bruises including a black eye. Not really a sport for pregnancy!

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:29

DH has just spoken to her, and her DP.

She has broken her femur, apparantly that is a straight break, been put back and pinned, no cast.

However, she has ripped 3 out of 4 ligaments that hold her knee in place. Her knee is screwed.

Apparantly they are insured. She is awaiting surgery on her knee to repair it, but likely permanent damage. The surgeon is one of the most reputable surgeon in the state. She is likely to be there for at least another 3 weeks before she will be able to come home.

Baby is fine, she is good spirits. Being treated well in hospital.

We are going to send her some balloons as no flowers in room.

OP posts:
Original poster
pavlovthecat · 07/03/2009 19:32

tracey - i think it was sort of that, more to show her dp their life would not change. By going skiing her life was changing as she has never been before.

I will tell her off, she will expect it anyway! But I will not give her a hard time about it. She is going to really really struggle in the next few months and is going to need us there for her.

OP posts:
JaneSeymour · 07/03/2009 19:34

I'm glad she's getting good care.

Hmm, do you know I fancy skiing now...it was watching that James bond the other week, OHMSS i think - with all those dopey girls in the ski resort?

Brilliant fun! Even on one ski! Look at meeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!