Should women ski while Pregnant

[highpeaksdrifter]

There is an interesting discussion on this topic on another ski forum and I'd thought it might be of interest here.

Should a woman ski while pregnant? My personal opinion is no. No matter how good of a skier a person is accidents happen and it seems to be an unnecrssary risk to the unborn child. I know people get hit by cars, trip and fall down stairs, etc., but why add one more potential problem? What do you think?

 

[ctenidae]

I think it's up to the woman to decide. As it is with all things pregnancy-related.

That said, I'd think it would be difficult for someone 8 months pregnant to get on and off a chairlift, though it might be fun to watch.

 

[NYDrew]

If I had a wife, and it was my wife who was pregnant, i would have to say no to skiing after maybe the 6th month. UP till then, I would be fine with empty groomed trails. However, i would agree not to ski either for that time...its only fair.

In the end though, it would be her decision. I'm not the one with millions of years of genetic maternal instinct...my instinct is to protect her at all costs, she knows herself and baby care better then I do.

 

[catskills]

If I had a wife, and it was my wife who was pregnant, i would have to say ...

NYDrew you don't have a wife so I will let you off easy here. First thing you have to understand, you don't OWN a wife like you OWN a car.

There was a similar case in PA where a Judge had to rule on does a wife have to tell her husband she is _______ before she is allowed to _________. You fill in the blanks with what ever you want like “going skiing”. One of the Judges says yes she does have to tell her husband and all the other judges disagreed and said no the wife does not have to tell her husband before __________. We all know once you set a precedent like this you are a short step away to make more laws that include other restrictions on what the wife can or can not do without proving she informed her husband. Now of course this case turns out you fill the blank with “having an abortion”.

Here we have a similar question. Does the wife have to tell her husband that she is going skiing when she is pregnant. Personally I don't think she does have to tell her husband she is going skiing while she is pregnant. What's more is she doesn't need to show proof at the lift ticket window that she is either single and pregnant or written proof that she did tell her husband before purchasing a lift ticket. At least that's my humble opinion.

Most of you that don't live under rock know that the PA judge above that ruled women have to tell their husband before having an abortion is Judge Samuel Alito who "may" be our next US supreme court judge.

Now the moral of the story is this. When your cruising down that blue groomer at MACH speed and slightly out of control (actually your are out of control) think about this. Their may be pregnant women on this same trail.

 

[hammer]

If I were in the same situation, I'd ask/plead with my wife to ask her Obstetrician and follow his/her advice. That way we'd get a qualified opinion and I would not have to be the one to say no.

 

[tirolerpeter]

If I had a wife, and it was my wife who was pregnant, i would have to say ...

NYDrew you don't have a wife so I will let you off easy here. First thing you have to understand, you don't OWN a wife like you OWN a car.

There was a similar case in PA where a Judge had to rule on does a wife have to tell her husband she is _______ before she is allowed to _________. You fill in the blanks with what ever you want like “going skiing”. One of the Judges says yes she does have to tell her husband and all the other judges disagreed and said no the wife does not have to tell her husband before __________. We all know once you set a precedent like this you are a short step away to make more laws that include other restrictions on what the wife can or can not do without proving she informed her husband. Now of course this case turns out you fill the blank with “having an abortion”.

Here we have a similar question. Does the wife have to tell her husband that she is going skiing when she is pregnant. Personally I don't think she does have to tell her husband she is going skiing while she is pregnant. What's more is she doesn't need to show proof at the lift ticket window that she is either single and pregnant or written proof that she did tell her husband before purchasing a lift ticket. At least that's my humble opinion.

Most of you that don't live under rock know that the PA judge above that ruled women have to tell their husband before having an abortion is Judge Samuel Alito who "may" be our next US supreme court judge.

Now the moral of the story is this. When your cruising down that blue groomer at MACH speed and slightly out of control (actually your are out of control) think about this. Their may be pregnant women on this same trail.

Think about this: If you are married with children, then maybe neither you or your wife should be tearing down a trail at warp speed. After all, you could easily be killed or severely incapacitated thus causing your children to be without your support or even orphaned. The decision of whether or not anyone, man or woman, should undertake the risks of skiing, is truly a personal one, and should be left up to the individual.

 

[Marc]

Eh, I don't know, my mom never quit the roller derby when she was pregnant with me or the ladies' tackle football league.


She actually said she enjoyed that time since I provided a lot of fall cushion. I'm not sure what that means.......

:dunce:

 

[NYDrew]

I dont think my point was clear (re read my last post) its the womans choice, but I hope to eventually hope to marry a woman who will respect my opinion on certain issues that affect us both. Just like i will respect her opinons when my actions directly affect both of us. unfortunately for her, I cant get pregnant so it works mostly in the first way.

peters got a point. i guess that is why we call it experience. hopefully ill learn that before i make any mistakes.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Think about this: If you are married with children, then maybe neither you or your wife should be tearing down a trail at warp speed. After all, you could easily be killed or severely incapacitated thus causing your children to be without your support or even orphaned. The decision of whether or not anyone, man or woman, should undertake the risks of skiing, is truly a personal one, and should be left up to the individual.

A friend of mine's wife just got pregnant. I used the opportunity to convince him to finally get a helmet. "Your gonna be a father now!" It worked.

 

[drjeff]

One of the biggest risk factors with pregnancy and skiing, isn't just the fetus, but all the maternal health both duing pregnancy and for a period of approximately 6 months post delivery. One of the various (and numerous) hormonal changes that occur to the mother is a "draw down" of the calcium levels in the mothers bones to help with the developing fetuses (and newborn's vi breast feeding) nutritional needs. This calcium shift from mom to baby can make mom's bone more brittle and increase the risk of fracture in a fall

I've got a 3 week old at home, and while me and my 2 year old will do some skiing this winter, mom and the baby won't - and mom skied 40 days last year

 

[Marc]

Welcome Dr. Jeff! Glad to have you posting!



I've seen them give calcium treatments to cows that have just birthed for the same reasons you just mentioned.




Because when it comes right down to it, we're just skinny cows on two legs.


And only one stomach of course.

 

[Skifastsailfast]

It really comes down to a personal decision by expectant mom, made in conjunction with hubby and doctor. The way I've heard it described to a healthy female avid skier in early stages (one to four months) during ski season: Doc (also an avid skier) says it's okay to ski but not competitively. IOW, enjoy making some turns, but don't push it too hard.

Kind of comes down to using some common sense, doesn't it?

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

When I was pregnant with my son, I chose not to ski that winter season in order not to risk losing my child. Of course, I was pregnant most of the ski season since he was born in late April. Unfortunately, I missed skiing in the famous 96/97 season when the snow dumps kept coming and I believe Killington skiing went into July.

It is up to the woman to decide whether or not to ski but I believe most women would choose not to especially late in the pregnancy.

 

[riverc0il]

entirely a decision between the women and her doctor. if the doctor advises against it, i think the father has the right to question the woman's decision on the grounds she is violating doctor's orders and taking an unnessicary risk. but it is ultimately the woman's decision.

heck, what right do i have to discuss on this topic? my mom was riding space mountain and hiking up to tuckerman ravine (not skiing) a few months before i was born and i turned out okay! :lol: i think?

 

[catskills]

How about these ideas.

Recommend (as in not require) that women wear a bright yellow vest with the words baby on board on the back. People would see the vest from a 100 yards away and hopefully would ski in control when a pregnant women is on the trail. Maybe ski areas would give out these vests for free.

Another alternative is a large yellow circle on the back with the words baby on board. A yellow circle dot on the back of the helmet may also work to warn others.

Just some ideas.

 

[JimG.]

How about these ideas.

Recommend (as in not require) that women wear a bright yellow vest with the words baby on board on the back. People would see the vest from a 100 yards away and hopefully would ski in control when a pregnant women is on the trail. Maybe ski areas would give out these vests for free.

Another alternative is a large yellow circle on the back with the words baby on board. A yellow circle dot on the back of the helmet may also work to warn others.

Just some ideas.

Perhaps some merit to these ideas, but...

I've noticed signs like these serve more as magnets for trouble than anything else. People try to look at them or read them and wind up plowing into the person.

 

[ctenidae]

Or if they're single, maybe paint a big red "A" on their backs, too.

Does anyone try harder to not hit a pregnant lady than they try not to hit anyone else? Singling people out is never a good idea. The thought is good, the reality, not so much.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

How about these ideas.

Another alternative is a large yellow circle on the back with the words baby on board. A yellow circle dot on the back of the helmet may also work to warn others.

Just some ideas.

Here's another idea, how about she just doesn't ski for one season. Kinda like stop smoking or stop drinking alcohol for 9 months. I get tired of all the Generation X crap, (I deserve it all, don't inconvience me), what's wrong with a little self sacrifice?

 

[JimG.]

Here's another idea, how about she just doesn't ski for one season. Kinda like stop smoking or stop drinking alcohol for 9 months. I get tired of all the Generation X crap, (I deserve it all, don't inconvience me), what's wrong with a little self sacrifice?

Gasp! You used the "S" word...sacrifice! That's a word that doesn't get much play anymore, especially here in the USA.

It's a good word, one that any prospective parent ought to get used to...especially after giving birth.

My wife isn't a big skier, but she stopped skiing as soon as we found out she was pregnant with all of our 3 sons. That was her choice. I wouldn't tell her what to do because it is her choice, but I thought it best she not take chances too.

I've seen alot of carnage out on the ski slopes. I've seen ski careers ended in one collision due to one person's momentary lack of judgement; and sometimes it's just an accident.

Why take the risk? I've got other "S" words for when you do something you probably shouldn't...shortsighted, stupid, selfish...you get my drift.

And now I sit back and wait for the wrath of females everywhere to come down on my poor soul.

 

[dmc]

Their choice.. I know lots of women that skied for a couple months while pregnant before quiting..

I could think of a million reasons why I shouldn't do the things I do... But I don't...