When pregnant, it is important to be extra careful about everything you do, especially since you are carrying another life in you. However, it’s not a reason to stop yourself from enjoying things you liked doing before your pregnancy.
NOTE: Always consult with your doctor for any activities when pregnant.
People usually see pregnant women as fragile and sensitive. That may be true, but that is not enough reason to prevent them from doing normal things as non-pregnant women could do. In fact, there are many activities pregnant women can do in the middle of their pregnancy, such as exercising, celebrating holidays, working, and many more.
When it comes to traveling, going by plane is strictly prohibited, especially during the last stage of a woman’s pregnancy. However, boating, on the other hand, is safe for pregnant women within nine months of carrying their babies.
Before going on a boating trip, you need to follow a lot of extra precautions to ensure you’re safe and make the trip a fun and enjoyable experience. And even though there are many dangerous activities not allowed for pregnant women, boating isn’t one.
To ensure that boating is a safe activity for pregnant women, here are some guidelines, precautions, and tips you should follow carefully before going on a boating trip.
When Can Pregnant Women Go Boating?
Pregnant women should avoid adventurous and risky activities to ensure their and their babies’ safety. However, if you want to experience a bit of thrill and adventure during your pregnancy by participating in a boating trip, then it would be best to go during your second trimester.
During the first trimester, pregnant women are prone to dizziness, headaches, and nausea, the same as in the third trimester. So going during these times may intensify these problems, making your boating experience bad and unenjoyable.
So if you like to experience boating while pregnant, go during your second trimester to avoid seasickness and other serious complications. It is also essential to take extra measures and precautions and be very careful to have a fun and memorable boating experience.
TIPS ON BOATING WHEN PREGNANT
Assess if you are in the proper condition to go boating
While boating is deemed safe for pregnant women, it still depends on a case-to-case basis. Some pregnant women experience a more complicated pregnancy than other women.
Women who have normal pregnancies may do activities that could intensify complications in women who experience high-risk pregnancies. So it is essential to assess if you are in the right condition to experience a thrilling boating activity to ensure that you are safe and you’ll not trigger any complications in your pregnancy.
Consult your physician before you go boating
When pregnant, it is essential to consult your doctor and seek professional medical advice before planning your boating trip. You may encounter many possible risks when boating that cannot be solved by wearing a life jacket, and it is hard to get treatment when you are out sailing. So it is important to let your OB/GYN know about your boating plans and consult whether you are in the proper condition to participate in this activity to avoid further risks and complications in your pregnancy because your physicians know what’s best for you and the baby you carry.
Check your pregnancy calendar
As said earlier, if you like to go boating during your pregnancy, it is important to do it during your second trimester. During your first trimester, you must be extra careful because participating in extreme activities could potentially harm your baby since they are still settling inside your womb.
You cannot also go during your third trimester because you might give birth at any given time, depending on your condition and different circumstances you encounter during your pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if you are not participating in extreme boating activities. It would be best if you avoided sailing since you might need to rush to the hospital anytime to get urgent care.
Stay cool and hydrated
Most people usually go on boat trips during the summer. So if you are pregnant, it is essential to stay cool and hydrated. Always ensure that you have enough water to sustain you during the whole boating trip.
Also, protect yourself from the sun’s harsh heat by wearing sunscreen and sitting in a shady area on the boat. If you want to feel cool, you can hang out at the marine pool, feel fresh, and feel the coldness of the water.
And if possible, avoid going on a boat trip when it’s very hot, since it would be harder to keep yourself cold and hydrated. You may plan your boat trip during cooler days or go boating at night if you want to experience a more relaxing and intimate boating experience.
Always wear a life jacket
Do not forget to wear your life jacket all the time. Life jackets help in keeping you safe during boating. It is important, especially when you’re pregnant, because you may sometimes experience a loss of stability. It might be possible for you to lose balance and fall off the boat.
It doesn’t matter if you are a great swimmer – wearing a life jacket while you go boating is very important, especially when pregnant. So if you are not a fan of wearing a life jacket, you should now practice wearing it all the time while you are on a boat for your safety, as well as the baby’s safety.
Refrain from walking on the boat
Another great tip when boating while pregnant is to avoid walking on the boat that much. When you are pregnant, you might lose a bit of stability, and pregnancy could lessen your sense of balance. So to ensure you are safe inside the boat, avoid frequently walking while onboard.
To avoid walking around that much while sailing, ensure that you have all your stuff, especially your essentials and necessities, and that they must all be organized. Aside from that, you can always stay near important facilities, such as restrooms, to avoid walking farther on the boat.
Avoid lifting heavy things
And since you have a lesser sense of balance when you’re pregnant, it is important to avoid lifting heavy objects. Stabilizing your feet is difficult, especially with all the weight you gained from carrying a baby inside you.
You should avoid carrying heavy objects because they are bad for you and could risk your safety. Let your friends and family lift the heavy stuff to ensure that you and your baby are all well and safe.