Pregnancy & Baby Index: Pregnancy - Fitness: Skiing while pregnant
Skiing while pregnant
Lisa Stone
Can you still ski during pregnancy? Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, presents some information about the risks.
Your question
I love to ski and am a "safe" intermediate skier. Is it too risky to carry on during the early months of a pregnancy? - Diane, New York
The expert answers
Downhill skiing is one of those activities that is pretty much taboo during
pregnancy, even for experienced skiiers. The risk of injuring yourself or
your baby is relatively high due to your changing center of gravity and
loosening joints and ligaments.
How about switching to cross country skiing this season? You'll get an
awesome workout without the risk of abdominal trauma. You'll still need to
make sure to drink LOTS of water before, during, and after your workouts to
stay well-hydrated.
Talk to your caregiver about the downhill skiing - maybe you can continue
through your first trimester (which just might get you through the best part
of the season!) and then switch activities as your pregnancy progresses.
Remember: your goal here is to grow a healthy baby, so if you have to miss
one winter of downhill, it's really a very small price to pay for a lifetime
with your child.
Lisa :)