Cross-country skiing whilst pregnant - would you?

[Plateofcrumbs]

At this time of year I'd normally be planning our annual ski trip, but as I'm pregnant throwing myself down slopes doesn't seem the most sensible idea.

However I love the snow and mountains and am considering a more chilled-out winter holiday. We've always wanted to cross country ski and am thinking this might be a good opportunity to try it out. I have seen cross country skiing recommended as a good, low impact activity for pregnant women, and I would be sticking to flat, easy trails. However as I will be learning it's likely I'd fall over a bit.

Also thinking of some gentle winter walking and snow-shoeing.

I would probably be 14-16 weeks pregnant when we can make any trip. I'm generally fairly active and plan to keep up running/cycling etc during pregnancy as long as I feel comfortable.

What do you all think? It's mostly the risk from falling I'm concerned about.

I would not ski. No way. Sick to the walking and enjoying the scenery.

I probably wouldn't but I am very risk-averse (I.e. A scaredy-cat!). I cycled til I was about 20 weeks and then it became a bit too uncomfortable, but I am an experienced cyclist and stayed on off-road paths etc. I think taking up something new where you could fall over a bit is a risk too far for me. Yes to the walking and snow-shoeing though.

It's only one winter you're missing out on, there will be plenty more. My first day of post-baby skiing was one of the best ever because it was so highly anticipated!!

In general, you shouldn't take up a new sport during pg.

Cross country is different from regular ski-ing. And by 16 weeks the pg will have grown beyond the protective bowl of the pelvis, your centre of gravity might be slightly different and relaxin might have started to soften your joints. Not a good time to put unfamiliar demands on your body.

I'd stick with walking and snow shoeing.

I'm not crazily worried about the introduction of a new activity - I use the cross trainer in the gym so my body is used to a (broadly similar) type of movement, and I can take account of how I feel and ease off or stop if it doesn't feel right. It's the uncontrollable stuff which worries me - is falling over inherently dangerous, or is it about the risk of a 'freak' accident (eg taking a heavy blow to the abdomen)?

Traumatic miscarriage is rare.

But it's somewhat more likely after 12 weeks (as pg is beyond protection of pelvis) and if there is a pelvis shattering incident or big impact to the lower abdomen - and those latter two cn happen when you ski for you on't have to be going fast to land badly on a pole or twisted ski (yours or that of the going-to-fast idiot who crashed into you. And of course even if there were lesser injuries, being pg would complicate treatment (fewer emergency pain relief options during transport, additional risk of GA for bone setting etc).

Check the small print of your health/accident insurance carefully.

I cross country skied BUT was VERY careful not to fall and it is something I've done before - it may be on the flat but technique is tricky and you can fall over quite hard. Up to you - certainly less risky than downhill skiing but not without risk. I did it up to 12 weeks, had a small fall which scared me and then I stopped.

I am not sure but i suppose langlauf would be safer than alpine skiing. esp if you are already reasonably fit.
only you can decide.
fwiw i did know a girl years who was in denial about her pregnancy and was horse-riding quite intensively all through, inc. cross country jumping at 8 and a half months and she and her baby were fine.

Yes I would do it at 14-16 weeks (I am already an experienced skier).
Plenty of stops for food & drink!

I'm an experienced skier who has metaphorically packed my skis away for now (20 weeks) however I have done langlauf and if the conditions are good (deep snow) and trails flat it's like being on a cross trainer. However for me it would be the tiredness that would've got me at 14-16 weeks, I couldn't even manage swimming or cycling (things I had been doing regularly), so it's worth considering you might not feel too great! Good luck though, lovely news!

To clarify, I haven't done langlauf whilst preggo but I would consider it safer than downhill! More tiring though potentially!

Thanks for all the advice, especially from those who've done langlauf before. In many ways I'd feel more comfortable downhill skiing as at least I know my own ability and the conditions I feel safe skiing in. Having said that, the worst falls I've had skiing have been fairly random incidents in good conditions. But then again despite tumbling many many times when I was learning, I've never sustained a serious injury and certainly never taken any abdominal impacts.

I don't know!