Skiing while pregnant - late season European resorts

[Megatron23]

Hey Divas, I got some nice help here last week so I want to share my experience for someone in the future.

I found out I was pregnant (yay!) last Saturday, and on Sunday we left to go skiing. I was still reeling tbh and didn't stop to think about wether I 'should'.

Well on the Monday I did start to wonder - am I making a huge mistake? So I started checking online and most sources have a patriarchal, fearongering guilt based advice. Can you live with yourself if something happens?

Ski Diva was different, and had the real experiences of women who have ski experience. It gave me some info to digest and in the end I decided to ski.

So here's the data;
Me - reformed snowboarder, 13 years of skiing under my belt and a season as well. I would consider my skill level to be close to expert and I trusted myself to judge the risk.

Resort - Sauze D'Oulx and the Milky Way resort chain. Truly la Dolce Vita skiing - nice wide slopes and carving heaven, as opposed to the hardcore french resorts.

How pregnant - 4/5 weeks

Busyness of slopes - empty until wednesday due to it being midweek and so late in the season. The 'Dutch Week' kicked off and and suddenly there were 6ft men drinking on the slopes from 10am onwards.

Snow - snow on slopes. Grass and dirt on slope was a bigger risk than ice.

Approach - I really listened to my body and went in each day before I was tired. I mostly cruised around blues and reds, one or two blacks, no off piste. Only skiied the bluebird days. I skiied half days from wednesday on and not at all on the last day as it was cloudy and the last day of dutch week.

Feeling - I was excited to be there and about the pregnancy, so overall it was very special. I was lucky we were in Italy and not in, for instance, Chamonix, where I probably wouldn't have been able to safely ski. I also enrolled my parents tinto the secret withy husband and I because I am usually a big apres ski fan after some hardcore shredding ,so the change was too noticeable to hide. I was also EXHAUSTED and slept at least nine hours every night.

So I hope this is useful to someone else trying to make their choice.

 

[Chuyi]

Congrats

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I live in a town where most women ski well into their 7th and even 8th month of pregnancy, including some big back country tours.

It is a personal choice and just living with snow and ice on roads that we walk and drive on is a risk. For many women skiing is almost safer than the walking or driving and certainly a lot more fun.

Congratulations! I wish you many years of family fun on snow.

 

[Amie H]

Congratulations!

My first trimester with my daughter I was so exhausted by the end of the day, my husband usually found me asleep on the couch by 7pm. I was also usually a little nauseated in the morning (I took crackers & a can of ginger ale on my morning train commute.)

Second trimester I felt like a superstar - hopefully you have the same and can enjoy long walks, etc in the summer.

 

[geargrrl]

I skied easy blues and greens until 5 months. Those days 35 years ago I wasn't a very good skier and that's where I felt safest. I also biked until my knees hit my belly.

 

[TiffAlt]

Approach - I really listened to my body and went in each day before I was tired. I mostly cruised around blues and reds, one or two blacks, no off piste. Only skiied the bluebird days. I skiied half days from wednesday on and not at all on the last day as it was cloudy and the last day of dutch week.

Everyone has different comfort levels and really listening to themselves is exactly the conversation I think everyone should have. Bravo, huge congratulations on your pregnancy and I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation on your terms.

 

[Beckster]

Congratulations! Keeping fit throughout your pregnancy is important. I skied well into my 7th month until I took a tumble in the moguls. Our bodies are amazingly resilient. Unless one is managing a high risk pregnancy, of course.

 

[Eera]

Congratulations! You do what's right for you!
I took my motorbike test when I was 5 months gone with my first: couldn't have done it with my second as I was the size of a hippo with that one and wouldn't have been able to reach the throttle.

 

[Sheena]

Congratulations! It's such a personal choice and it depends on your comfort and how you are feeling. I skied in March and April when I was pregnant both times, but was in my 1st trimester (November babies) and felt good. I stuck to groomed runs.

You'll know what's right for you and how comfortable you personally feel. My OB was a skier and he told me I would be fine to continue activities I had been doing as long as I was not trying new things.

 

[Megatron23]

Congratulations! Keeping fit throughout your pregnancy is important. I skied well into my 7th month until I took a tumble in the moguls. Our bodies are amazingly resilient. Unless one is managing a high risk pregnancy, of course.

In the moguls!!! I was lucky there wasn't any in Sauze because I would have been too tempted

 

[Megatron23]

Congratulations! It's such a personal choice and it depends on your comfort and how you are feeling. I skied in March and April when I was pregnant both times, but was in my 1st trimester (November babies) and felt good. I stuck to groomed runs.

You'll know what's right for you and how comfortable you personally feel. My OB was a skier and he told me I would be fine to continue activities I had been doing as long as I was not trying new things.

You know, until I found this group you'd think pregnant people were banned from the slopes altogether! I'm glad I found it because I was starting to feel like the most irresponsible person on planet earth for cruising around and having coffees at 11am

 

[Megatron23]

Congratulations! Keeping fit throughout your pregnancy is important. I skied well into my 7th month until I took a tumble in the moguls. Our bodies are amazingly resilient. Unless one is managing a high risk pregnancy, of course.

Exactly and the mental health component canted be overlooked. - do you ever feel better than when you're sailing around in the sunshine in your favourite jacket?

 

[Beckster]

In the moguls!!! I was lucky there wasn't any in Sauze because I would have been too tempted

Lol! Yeah they’re hard to resist! After that tumble I figured my equilibrium wasn’t going to return until postpartum. That was back in 1994 on my 198cm Rossi SL straight skinnies. Thank goodness ski tech has changed so my old self may still succumb to the temptation with great joy.
But I agree with the crew here. It’s important to do what you feel is best for you.

 

[lisamamot]

You know, until I found this group you'd think pregnant people were banned from the slopes altogether! I'm glad I found it because I was starting to feel like the most irresponsible person on planet earth for cruising around and having coffees at 11am

As everyone has said, the choices that are made during a pregnancy are so very personal. Congratulations on your pregnancy and successful trip!

Most women can exercise and enjoy whatever activities they have enjoyed prior to their pregnancy whether that be skiing, biking, horseback riding, etc.

Most women achieve a pregnancy and take it to term with relative ease.

From one that did not fall into the most category......

It is important to remember that reading and then responding to a "should I [sport of choice] when pregnant" question is very emotional for those that have endured a heartbreaking loss, and compounded for those that worked very hard to achieve and retain that pregnancy. Their responses may be more emotional than clinical, and they speak from experience when they inquire how you would feel if your choice resulted in a danger, or end, to your pregnancy. Picking up the pieces of your heart following a loss, especially a later term loss, is devastatingly hard and if I put blame on myself it would have been unimaginable.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

@lisamamot I am sorry for your struggles. As a former OBGYN hospital RN I have cared for families with losses and difficult outcomes, and can not begin to imagine the level of pain add suffering.

I think most of the 'should' suggestions here focus on women finding the best approach to their pregnancy with the input of their health care providers, and trusting that all choices, from conservative to risk taking, will be supported.

 

[lisamamot]

@lisamamot I am sorry for your struggles. As a former OBGYN hospital RN I have cared for families with losses and difficult outcomes, and can not begin to imagine the level of pain add suffering.

I think most of the 'should' suggestions here focus on women finding the best approach to their pregnancy with the input of their health care providers, and trusting that all choices, from conservative to risk taking, will be supported.

Thank you. After burying my boys I was able, with medical intervention to the 9s, to achieve a 2nd pregnancy and deliver them safely.

Agreed, women should rely on input from their trusted health care providers and then make their decisions based on that feedback as well as their personal comfort level. Unsolicited feedback is rarely well received however well intended. That said, if one crowdsources they should be doing so with purpose, meaning they desire and expect to receive opinions, otherwise there is little value in asking. Of course, once opinions are provided, support of whatever choice is ultimately made is appropriate.

 

[ski diva]

As everyone has said, the choices that are made during a pregnancy are so very personal. Congratulations on your pregnancy and successful trip!

Most women can exercise and enjoy whatever activities they have enjoyed prior to their pregnancy whether that be skiing, biking, horseback riding, etc.

Most women achieve a pregnancy and take it to term with relative ease.

From one that did not fall into the most category......

It is important to remember that reading and then responding to a "should I [sport of choice] when pregnant" question is very emotional for those that have endured a heartbreaking loss, and compounded for those that worked very hard to achieve and retain that pregnancy. Their responses may be more emotional than clinical, and they speak from experience when they inquire how you would feel if your choice resulted in a danger, or end, to your pregnancy. Picking up the pieces of your heart following a loss, especially a later term loss, is devastatingly hard and if I put blame on myself it would have been unimaginable.

I agree with completely with @lisamamot . You have to do what's best for you and your baby. Just because others say 'oh, it's fine, I skied through 9 months' doesn't mean you should do it.

Really, if you look at it from the long term, missing a bit of skiing is pretty insignificant. Like Lisa, I did not have a good outcome to a pregnancy, so yes, I'm speaking from an emotionally devastating experience. That doesn't mean that would happen to you. I'm just saying it's a personal decision, and you have to take into account a lot of different factors.

We have a few other threads about this same topic, if you're interested:

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-niseko-while-pregnant.23236

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-3-5-4-months-pregnant.20090

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-and-pregnancy.1604/

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-when-pregnant.19369/

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

 

[Amie H]

Trigger warning: pregnancy loss.

___________________________________________
Those of you who've read my posts may get the sense that I have a pretty good sense of humor. It has been my shield in times of difficulty.

My second pregnancy did not go to term. It was a terrible situation, and I feel for anyone who has to endure a situation like that.

I knew his passing or being born needing immediate surgery was the likely outcome very early on, verified by U/S and amnio. I chose to keep going anyway, consulting with obstetric & neonatal specialists along the way. As each week went by, things kept getting worse, dire, even. Still, I kept going, because I was healthy and it was my choice.

Visited my parents that summer at their NJ beach house and went boogie boarding (my favorite summer activity,) very visibly pregnant (2nd trimester.) My mom said, "What? Boogie boarding?"

My reply was, "It's not like I'm going to mess him up even more!"

I really needed some "happy/fun" stuff in my life at that point, so I took the lil dude out in the waves that day and have no regrets.

My sister was also pregnant at the same time. Hers was high risk so she was not out in the waves with me that day. He was born very prematurely a week after my guy passed. Thanks to neonatal care, and his cousin as a guardian angel, he's today at a college visitation meeting with administrators to the honors program he was accepted into.

Life is incredible and unpredictable.

As others have said, surround yourself with caring, knowledgeable healthcare providers, listen to your body, and you'll find the path that is right for you.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

@Amie H Thank you for sharing your story. There are no hug emojis, which is what I wish I could send through the internet for you and the previous women who posted on here.

It sounds like for the moments in the waves are hopefully a sweet memory you can carry with you.

 

[Amie H]

@snoWYmonkey thank you.

An interesting side note is that when I was pregnant with my daughter, I also swam in the ocean, but only in calm seas. I remember sitting atop a raft, my husband holding it, and feeling so at peace.

I took "self hypnosis" lessons before giving birth and was instructed to "think of a vivid feeling when you were totally relaxed." I knew immediately it was that moment sitting on the raft in warm August water, my big belly feeling weightless.

I still use that technique to this day (dentist, airplane turbulence, blood draws, etc.) It works for me.