If you love gymnastics and/or have been a gymnast for a long time, you may be wondering if you can continue the sport while you or your partner is pregnant. First, it is important to note that this is not a medical website and we are not giving any medical advice.
The following article will outline some basic information and possible risks associated with participating in gymnastics while pregnant. Before making your own decision, please seek medical advice from your doctor to ensure that you make a decision that is most safe for your body and your baby’s health as well.
Always consult your doctor
Each woman’s body is different and may be able to withstand more or less physical exercise and exertion than others. Your doctor will be able to give you a better idea of what your limits are and what is realistically safe for you and the baby while you are pregnant. If your doctor does not advise the continuation of gymnastic activities, she or he may have some other, lower impact alternatives that you can try.
Your medical advice will likely also be dependent on how far along you or your partner are in the pregnancy. The further along in the pregnancy, the higher the risks for certain injuries from different activities. So you may find that there are some things you can do now that you won’t be able to do later in the pregnancy. It is best to listen to the advice of your doctor to avoid unwanted complications and injury due to activities that could potentially over-exert your body or cause stress for the baby.
Precautions
There are several precautions every woman should keep in mind when participating in any physical exercise or workout routines while pregnant. First, you will want to make sure you are always properly hydrated for any physical activity. Drink plenty of water before you work out, during your work out, and after to ensure proper hydration. This is especially important for women who are pregnant.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t exercise outside in the heat, or in a hot gym. Exercise in a cool place with air conditioning that will allow you to avoid becoming overheated and dehydrated. Symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration are uncomfortable and compounding and can lead to other more serious conditions as well. If you are going to be working out alone, it is a good idea to let someone know so they can check in on you and make sure all is well.
Another consideration is making sure you are dressed for the workout you’re going to be doing. Having a sports bra that gives a lot of support will help you to be more comfortable during physical activity. Later in your pregnancy you may want to opt for a belly belt that will help relieve some of the pressure on your back from carrying the extra weight of the baby on the front of your body. This will allow you to stay much more active for longer because you are supporting the new needs of your body.
It is also important to avoid certain movements that may be more likely to cause harm to you or the baby. While some gymnastics moves may be lower impact and more reasonable, avoid any moves that could cause a fall. A fall could be from a flip or somersault gone wrong, to falling off of a platform or balance beam. Other considerations include avoiding any movements that could cause injury or discomfort in your abdomen area. Your doctor can talk to you more about what types of movement to avoid.
Possible Risks
Again, the biggest risk of doing gymnastics while pregnant is falling. Falling during any activity is a huge risk for a woman who is pregnant in general, and even more so the further along she is in her pregnancy. Minimizing risk of falling is the best way to stay safe from falls. During flips and cartwheels, and balance beam gymnastics, falling is always a possibility. Some gymnastics moves can be lower risk and those may be more appropriate, especially further along in pregnancy. Come up with a list of moves you have questions about, and ask your doctor to see if they are considered safe or not.
The baby could also be jolted around during the aggressive movements, causing potential internal damage that could be harmful to the woman and the baby. It is probably best to stay away from moves like a round off back handspring that involves a lot of turns, movement, and the potential for an awkward fall. If you feel as though you have injured yourself during physical activity such as gymnastics, it is always best to seek medical attention and ensure that everything is okay.
Will Gymnastics Cause a Miscarriage?
Doing gymnastics while pregnant does not directly cause a miscarriage, but it could potentially cause complications if the woman falls or does very vigorous activity that could disturb the baby or cause internal injuries that would complicate the pregnancy, or result in a miscarriage.
Gymnastics is more dangerous in the later stages of pregnancy. Early in a pregnancy, women are actually encouraged to be physically active to maintain a healthy body and pregnancy. So, while there is always a risk of miscarriage, it is best to consult your doctor to find out what might be right for you when it comes to doing any gymnastics while pregnant.
Find other ways to keep moving
Exercising while pregnant is very important for the health of the baby and the woman. Regular exercise keeps your mind and body healthy and gives you a boost of energy throughout the day. It can also help ease some of the typical discomforts of pregnancy such as swelling in the feet, legs, and ankles.
The physical activity keeps your blood moving and your lungs and heart active which is excellent for mom and baby. Exercise during pregnancy can also help to manage stress, which is always good during a pregnancy.
Even though gymnastics has its risks, there are many other activities that are lower impact and still deliver great health benefits and the results you may be looking for while doing gymnastics. You can go for brisk walks, take long swims, or ride a stationary bike, to name a few!
Stretching and yoga are also great activities to do while you’re pregnant because they keep you active without the additional worry of injury. Yoga is also a great way to de-stress in the evening or start off your morning with a relaxing and powerful exercise routine.
Listen to your body
At the end of the day, the most important thing to do is listen to your body. We are all built differently, and we all have our limitations. It may be good to talk to other female gymnasts and hear their story about what they did while they were pregnant.
Remember though, something that worked for a friend while she was pregnant may not work for you. If you try something while pregnant and it just doesn’t seem right, it’s always best to stop, consult your doctor, and find something else that keeps you moving until you can get back to doing gymnastics!