skiing when pregnant

[sparechange]

DH and I are currently TTC.
The conversation came up at the weekend about skiing in the new year. We normally go as part of a bigger group and the others are starting to look at booking something up soon. If we want to go, we'd have to pay a deposit when we book.

Assuming we get lucky next month, I would be around 3 months pg when we go.

I've had a look online and opinion seems to divided between. Some sources are saying that for the first 3 months, everything is well-protected in the pelvis. Others say 'avoid'.
I'm a fairly good skiier, so am not worried about falling over, and would obviously stay on-piste and slow down, but obviously can't account for an out-of-control snowboarder hitting me! I'm a generally active person and I intend to keep running for as long as I can into my pg

There is always the option of waiting until nearer the time and booking something on our own, but this would be no where near as fun as going with our friends (hopefully for the last time for a few years)

Any advice/opinions welcome...

If you're fit, do it. I skied at 20 weeks this year and it was great.

If you're going as a group, are you booking a chalet type of thing? IME with groups there is always one or two who want an afternoon off, or going swimming/skating/rip-off-artisans-market/mainlining-chocolat-chaud.

I'd say book it - you might or might not have got pg (good luck, hope you do!) and you'll be early enough to ski safely if your health stays as good as you describe. Even if not, it's a well deserved break.

I snowboarded when 7-8 weeks pregnant with DS2. It was fine...i didnt go up first thing to allow the snow to soften a bit and i just took it fairly easy really. I was a bit nervous the first day but was fine.

I have a friend who skied at 4 months pregnant.

I think with skiing that you tend to fall onto your side rather than your tummy anyway, if i recall correctly.

If you are fairly good and confident think you will be fine.

FWIW ive been taken out by plenty of skiers in my time too not just snowboarders who can be out of control!!

Go for it

Umm I think if you really want to go and it might be the last time for a while, maybe skip the TTC just for a month or two, so you would be either not pg or only just pg when you go?

I would personally not be too worried about skiing in the very early weeks, as baby is so small and very well protected at that stage; but by 3 months it will be getting a bit bigger and you might also be starting to get beginnings of a bump and be worried about falling on it - I know I would be a bit uncomfortable with that. So if it was me I would prob only want to go up to maybe 8-9 weeks or so.

Other things to think about too before deciding - if you get bad MS or tiredness, you might not enjoy the trip/flight, or be able to ski much; you would not be able to drink (which might be hard if you wanted to keep the pg secret from your friends); and if you start getting a bulgy tummy early on (which can happen from bloating before you get a proper bump) you might have to get some larger-size ski clothes to stay comfy!

It also depends if you are the sort of person who would blame yourself if anything happened - realistically most early miscarriages are NOT caused by anything you did or didn't do, but I know some people would still feel it was "their fault" if they had been doing something like this, so those people might want to stay clear for their own peace of mind.

Would consider all those things and then make up your own mind - it's your decision ultimately!

Thanks all!
Really useful advice
I think deep down, I would really want to go and just need a bit of reassurance that I'm not going to have my baby removed by social services at birth if anyone gets wind about my reckless attitude.

DH and I have already said we won't wrap me in cotton wool when/if I get pg, but I have other friends who stopped just about everything - one friend refused to swim when pg in case she picked up any bugs from the pool, another refused to use showers outside their house in case the shower heads harboured germs.
Thanks again... I'm off to look at some holiday websites!!

HairyBaby,
sorry for the overgeneralisation

Go for it, you will be gutted if you don't book it and then are not pg (which is pretty likely)

We did similar, booked a holiday in March and started TTC in new year, was not pg by the time of the holiday (but shortly after!)

Worst that happens is you don't feel comfortable doing a lot of skiing, and spend a lot of time chilling out in cafes, etc.

Sorry that sounds a bit negative about your chances of conceiving quickly. all I mean is it is reasonably likely not to happen absolutely straight away, and don't put your life on hold for it!

if you have your head down the loo all morning you will not enjoy yourself. I would be inclined to wait to book and see how you feel last minute. I would have been fine with ds1, it would have been hell when pregnant with ds2. skiing in itself is fine i think as long as you take reasonable care. Dont dismiss being wrapped up in cotton wool a bit - you might be surprised at how vulnerable you feel.

Good for you, sparechange. Your first? Mine too - I found that subconsciously my 'risk boundaries' changed but I didn't become totally risk averse overnight. Basically I skied shorter days and had lots of slow-release carb snacks in my pockets.

I was actually training with the Army, I'd been tasked to organise the week for the annual Regimental Adventurous Training trip before knowing I was pg, I wasn't bloody well going to stay in the accommodation reading. I let the (male, middle-aged) instructor make me sit out one day because all the army types over a certain age were deeply clucky and worried for me. I went and had a sports massage. Most were of junior rank to me or not in my command chain though, so I could politely tell them to shove it.

That sounds a bit 'look at me' but what I mean to say is that you should prepare yourself to deal with the opprobrium of well-meaning others - and it is more pronounced the further removed they are from motherhood and the less well they know you and your level of fitness.

Am so excited for you! Can't see myself skiing this year with a six month old.

Blimey, Lex. Don't think I'm going to be matching you in the active stakes, but it is lovely to hear about ladies staying on their toes.
I have a friend who is a personal trainer and she was still teaching spin classes up until 6 weeks before her due date, so I'm really hoping to take a leaf out of her book.

I know it is all very presumptuous of us to hope that I'll get pg within a few months of starting ttc, but we're keeping everything crossed and trying to look on the positive side.

We are lucky that my MIL is also a very keen skiier, but has damaged her knee, and is already offering to come as a baby sitter if/when we have one, so hopefully the holidays can continue.
Might have to be without our friends though - I'm not sure they would appreciate my MIL on holiday with them...

Just to add - I went skiing at 10 weeks pregnant (with DTs) and actually found that the cold & fresh air somewhat relieved the all day nauseau that I was experiencing. Like others have said, just take it a bit easy and rest if you feel tired. I'm so glad we went when I was pregnant as two years on we haven't been able to venture back yet. Got offers of babysitters this year though so it's looking hopeful!

Just wanted to add my 2pence - skiing itself should be ok, but the other thing to think of is high altitude - if maternal oxygen saturation goes below 95% it does represent a danger to the fetus. So, I would try to stay on lower slopes - 2000km should be ok, 3000km might be a bit too much.

Best of luck!

Hi I actually booked a ski holiday for us and a group of friends for January when I was TTC. Now I have just discovered I am pregnant. Will be 20-21 week pregnant when I go so I just presumed skiing would be completely out. This has made me think maybe I could do a little? Has anyone got any experience of this? Not sure if my husband will let me away with it anyway.

I am worried I will be very grumpy watching everyone go out every day without me. I feel quite miserable thinking about it, then I feel bad for feeling miserable about it when I should just be happy to be pregnant. Anyway still trying to get my head around it all I think.

For people worrying about skiing after birth, my sister has 2 children and has only missed 1 year so far. She just gets my parents who don't ski but love grandchildren to come along and babysit for half a day or so. Next year I am planning on going in March when baby will be 9 months (if all goes well) with my sister and family and we can all take turns skiing so only have to miss 1.5 days skiing. So maybe people could go away with friend who have children and form a collective creche type thing.

I went cross-country skiing at 11 weeks pregnant having booked the trip before knowing I was pregnant. We'd only ever done it once before (the skiing that is) so we were very much novices. I mentioned it to my midwife before going and as someone who'd done some x-country in the past too, she didn't see any problem with it. I just did as much as I felt able to and the only time I fell was onto my very well padded bottom. I was lucky not to suffer too badly with morning sickness - the one and only time I ever was physically sick was in the airport on the way there and that was probably due more to the very early start than anything else. Even if you don't manage to do much skiing, being out in the fresh air will do you the world of good.

Oh lucky you who are going skiing! I haven't been snowboarding for ages (and won't be able to go this year either) due to pregnancies x2 and a baby. Go for it while you still can! I was contemplating going while 6+ months pregnant 2 years ago but decided against it, just in case something would have happened. But up to 3-4-5 months I'm sure is fine if you're careful.

I boarded at 7 weeks pg. The hardest thing was not being able to indulge in the usual apres ski drinks. I think up to about 9/10 weeks would have been it for me though.

Beofre I got pg with DS1 DH and I booked a trip to Tahoe. I then got pg making me 20 wks at the time of our trip. I considered going and just hanging out, sleeping etc, but couldn't do it in the end. The thought of seeing DH going off with his board was too much for me so I stopped at home.

We've just booked to go to Meribel in March with both DSs. Can't wait!!!!!

I am an experienced skier and skied at 6 weeks pregnant - didn't do my usual off-piste hiking/skiing narrow couloirs etc but skiied all piste runs & itineraries (aka marked off piste runs), (and a bit of off- piste on the sides etc). I was going to try and go a bit slowly but that didn't happen much tbh! I think it depends on your confidence and skiing ability and experience etc. Obviously someone could crash into you or almost crash into you. You just need to be going at an appropriate pace so that you know you can be in control/swerve to avoid someone if that does happen. However, I was only 6 weeks so not a hint of a bump. Ooh and def take food with you and drink lots of water.

Also we have booked skiing for easter already - baby should be about 4 1/2 months by then - def not missing a season - getting a nanny.

Thanks everyone. I don't know who is more relieved - me or dh.
When we first started ttc, I mentioned to him that this years skiing holiday might be our last for a while and I've never seen him look more
As a former skibum with an aversion to sunshine, telling him he can't go skiing is a bit like telling me I can't have chocolate.

Now holiday plans are sorted, we can just concentrate on him actually getting me knocked up!

sorry, sunshine shoould be 'sunshine beach holidays'
I haven't actually married a vampire

I chose not to go - although actually I don't think there's any reason why not to safety-wise in the early stages if you're confident.

But I'm glad I didn't a) because I got very, very dizzy in the early stages and would have had problems with the altitude I think - and b) I was utterly zonked in the early stages as well - from week 4 to week 8 was the worst. It might have been difficult had I been at the top of a mountain, nowhere near the cable car, and too tired to get down.

Sorry - that's not very positive. The thing is though that pregnancy is so different for everyone... you may be totally fine... then again...

Could you go to a resort where there's other stuff to do, just in case?

Yeah if you're in the sick & tired stage you might not wanna do long days... just listen to your body! Mr Skibum can go off on his own in the afternoons.

I went on three ski weekends when pg: 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks. Although I was really tired at home, the fresh air made me feel much better and I had a great time each time. I'm very experienced so know my limits but I was more concious than usual about the possibility of being taken out so avoided busy pistes and icy runs where others might fall. I was fine and am now 36 weeks. The only tough thing for me was missing out on all the red wine & cheese - v hard!

Only concern is that you might have a low-lying placenta or other issues that might cause a bleed. I had a bleed at 15 weeks and my obstetrician put me on modified bedrest for two weeks and forbade any exertion at all for a month, even lifting my 2 year old dd, as it could irritate my uterus further and put the pregnancy in danger.

I'm due to go skiing with a group when I will be 20 weeks. 4/5 weeks along now with my first. Ooer.

Doctor seemed to think it would be fine - very relaxed about it to my surprise. I suspect that the midwives will think differently when I go in for a booking apt.
How much do you show on average at 20 weeks - if you are fairly slim to begin with and average height (5ft 6)? More to the point - how normal do you still feel leaving morning sickness etc aside?

Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to be storming down black runs but if the snow is excellent and I feel great (and can still fit in my pants), I would be tempted to do a bit of pootling about on the blue runs prob with an instructor so I can stay away from the main thoroughfares. One couple in the group is bringing a baby with her so I can spend my afternoons getting some practise in :-)

Thoughts gratefully received.