There’s no doubt that jet skiing is an awesome sport that many people love to indulge in. Unfortunately, it’s not safe for everyone to ride a jet ski. This is particularly the case for pregnant women. Jet skiing has potential dangers, especially for pregnant women and as a mother-to-be, you should be fully aware of the potential risks that jet skiing has on your unborn baby.
So can you ride a jet ski while pregnant? No! It’s not safe for a pregnant woman to ride a jet ski as it’s dangerous not just to the mother-to-be but also to the unborn baby. Falling from a jet ski into the water can have severe effects on her body and the pregnancy, so it’s not a good idea to ride a jet ski when pregnant.
In this insightful article, we’ll take a look at the potential problems of riding a jet ski when pregnant. Read on to find what could happen if you ride a jet ski while pregnant based on evidence as well as what you should do if you have to jet ski while pregnant.
Why You Should Avoid Jet Skiing When Pregnant
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As an expectant mother, it’s always advisable to adapt your activities and even think twice about things, you’ve always done without a second thought. Whether it’s about the food you take or the type of exercises you do, doctors and experts often advise that you should do it in moderation or even avoid them altogether.
As far as jet skiing while pregnant is concerned, it’s advisable to take things a bit easier on yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the best condition physically, riding a jet ski while pregnant poses numerous dangers not just to the expectant mother but also to the unborn baby. In other words, jet skiing can be traumatic and risky to both the mother and the baby and should just be avoided.
It’s important to note that jet skiing as an activity, especially when done with caution is not necessarily risky for pregnant women. However, the risk only revolves around the potential dangers of falling when jet skiing.
Just like driving on the roads, you can be very cautious but can’t control other road users. This is to say that you can’t control what other jet skiers do and the possibility of collision, which is a normal occurrence among jet skiers, could happen. As such, other jet skiers may pose a great deal of threat not just to you but also to the unborn baby. So why put yourself in such a situation as an expectant mother?
Other than injuries that result from accidents that may occur while jet skiing, there are other dangers associated with riding a jet ski while pregnant. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Dehydration and Heat Stroke
Considering that jet skiing mostly happens during the hot summer season, chances are high that the dehydration rate in your body will be high. This can lead to serious medical situations, especially for expectant mothers. As a pregnant mother indulging in jet skiing during the hot summer weather will leave you overheated.
Your body is already working extra hard to keep you and the baby healthy, so riding a jet ski will push you over the edge and can lead to dehydration and overheating, which can then cause practice contractions. It can also cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and muscle cramps.
Heatstroke, which is a result of heat exhaustion, is also dangerous to expectant mothers and can tamper with the functioning of kidneys, heart, muscles, and the brain. If this happens, the unborn baby may suffer health problems such as fetal growth syndrome.
Bumps and Falls
Jet skis are normally ridden at very high speed and can pose several threats to the user. This is because they hit the water at a very high impact. The constant up and down motion caused by the high speed and the water waves can be risky to you as an expectant mother, particularly if you fall on your stomach at a high force.
Falling into the waters while jet skiing is a normal occurrence that happens even to most experienced individuals. If it happens to a pregnant woman, the impact of the accident may cause serious complications not only to the expectant mother but also to the unborn baby.
It becomes even more dangerous if a pregnant woman falls behind the Jet Ski. The idea here is the Jet Ski’s as the jet’s pump is likely to force the water into her privates. According to experts, this is very dangerous to the unborn baby and might lead to serious complications to the woman’s genitals. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why Jet Ski rental companies do not allow pregnant women to use their jet skis.
Jolts and Vibration
The sudden shake when starting or stopping the Jet Ski might result in tension and can affect the unborn baby. The vibration of the Jet Ski can also lead to miscarriages and premature births.
Precautions for Pregnant Women when Jet Skiing
Given that jet skiing is dangerous for pregnant women and should be avoided at all costs, you have to take serious precautions if you have to. Here’s what you need to do to minimize the risks that come with jet skiing while pregnant.
Wear Proper Safety Equipment
According to the Red Cross report, putting on appropriate safety equipment reduces about 90% of the jet skis-related drowning.
Lifejackets prevent you from drowning in case of an accident while eye protection prevents water splashes from blocking your vision. The whistle attached to the lifejacket can be used for summoning help in case of an emergency. Gloves and safety shoes also aid in better control of the Jet Ski.
Avoid Speeding
Pregnant women should maintain low or average speed when jet skiing to minimize the risks of falling. This can help in reducing the risks of accidents, especially if there are other jet skiers in the same water body.
By riding at a moderate speed, you can easily avoid hitting rocks, trees, or any other objects in the water.
Be in the Company of Someone
As a pregnant woman, you should be accompanied by another person if you have to go jet skiing. He/she can help you get back to the Jet Ski without straining in case of a fall or an accident. Should a complication occur, he/she can offer or even ask for help where necessary. Things may be bleak if you decide to ride a jet ski alone while pregnant.
Apply Sunscreens
Having in mind that water reflects light and jet skiing is mostly done in hot summers, it would be wise for you to apply sunscreens. This should be done 30 minutes before starting jet-skiing or just before you start the exercise, as well as after finishing. This is of great importance in helping protect your skin from sunburn.
Carry a First-Aid Kit and a Pregnancy Pack
We never plan for accidents and they always occur when we least expect them. So if you have to ride a jet ski while pregnant, you must take the necessary precautions to safeguard both your life and that of the unborn baby, and this includes having a first-aid kit and a pregnancy pack.
Avoid Big Waves
Big waves can increase the up and down movement especially if you’re riding at a high speed. The best thing to do is to avoid any situation that may push your body to the edge as this can lead to serious complications.
The tensions of riding big waves may also bring hormonal imbalance, which might affect you and your unborn baby. So if you have to ride a jet ski while pregnant, you better avoid the huge waves.
Avoid Going Too Deep
Your safety and that of your unborn baby should always be your top priority, so you should avoid going too deep where it may take time for help to reach you in case of an emergency. If you have to ride a jet ski while pregnant, just do it along the shores, where people on the shores can see you.
Going too deep can be very dangerous, especially if you are pregnant and unable to swim perfectly. You should remain in the vicinity of the shores where help can be brought to you with ease or you can help yourself in no time.
How Do You Evaluate Your Condition when Jet Skiing?
To be on the safe side when jet skiing while you’re pregnant, your condition should be evaluated on a case-to-case basis. Pregnant women have different capabilities under the same condition, so you should consider certain things before going jet skiing during your pregnancy. Here are a few of the things to consider.
Seek Advice from a Professional
It’s important to consult a pregnancy expert if you’re planning to ride Jet Ski while pregnant. This can help you determine whether or not you have complications that may be worsened by jet skiing. These specialists know what is best for you and your baby, so it would be wise to consult them before taking any action.
Track Your Pregnancy Calendar
The second trimester would preferably work well if you have to ride a jet ski while pregnant. You, however, have to be more careful as these extreme outdoor activities might be of harm to your unborn child.
The third trimester is the riskiest as you’re nearing the due date and your routine and activities may cause serious effects. As such, it’s advisable to drop the jet skiing thing altogether. By knowing your pregnancy calendar; you can avoid riding a jet ski when at risk.
The Type of Jet Ski to Use
As we noted earlier, you should only ride a jet ski when in the company of someone else. This means that you should avoid using jet skis that can only accommodate one person. Again, you should always go for a well-maintained and serviced jet ski to minimize the chances of accidents. A properly maintained jet ski will also offer a comfortable ride, which is essential for your condition.
What Other Activities Should You Avoid During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is delicate and should be handled with care and caution. As an expectant mother, you should avoid strenuous physical activities as they can lead to complications and pose serious risks to you and your unborn baby.
Here are a few activities to avoid while expectant.
Running and Jogging
This can cause unnecessary commotion in your womb and this can directly harm the unborn baby. You’re also likely to lose weight and this may have serious repercussions at birth.
You also risk falling and sustaining serious injuries because of the imbalance caused by the pregnancy.
Cycling
While exercising during pregnancy is recommended, you should only engage in low-impact physical activities. Unfortunately, cycling isn’t one of them.
Weight Lifting and High Impact Aerobics
This is perhaps the riskiest exercise to indulge in when pregnant as it can cause miscarriages and serious pregnancy complications. If you have to lift weights, then you have to consult an expert on the safest way to do it.
What are the Recommended Physical Activities for Pregnant Women?
Despite the risks associated with many physical activities, some are healthy for you during pregnancy. The most important thing is to ensure that they’re low-impact physical activities and you’ll be good to go. Let’s look at some of them.
· Swimming – It enhances the free flow of blood, relieves pressure from the spine, and relaxes the muscles. It’s also an excellent way of preventing dehydration.
· Hiking – The exercise is recommended for pregnant women by specialists because it aids in the fitness of the legs, buttocks, and back muscles. It also helps in preventing complications such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
· Low Impact Aerobics – This kind of aerobics must be directed by an expert. They’re normally slow, simple, and a lot easier. They’re specifically meant for a certain group of people including pregnant women and those recovering from serious conditions such as stroke.
Final Thoughts
To this end, it’s of great importance to note that you should avoid riding a jet ski while pregnant. This is because it poses very serious threats that are certainly not worth the risk for any expectant mother.
As such, you should avoid jet skiing while pregnant. But if you have to do it while pregnant, then you have to be very cautious and follow the above-described precautions. Better still, you can choose to avoid it altogether and indulge in low-impact physical activities such as swimming, low-impact aerobics, and hiking, which are all perfect for your overall well-being and that of your unborn baby.