Ice Skating?

Jessie_ea

Ice skating is one of my favorite winter activities, anyone know if we can ice skate while pregnant? I'm pretty good and don't think there is any risk of falling but still wasn't sure. Thanks!

somegirl425

I totally plan on ice skating!  I know girls who have played hockey up until 7 months .  most others I know have played until 5 max but there are some diehards out there.

I can't wait until I have a chance to get out skating!

a.graves

I would honestly talk to your doctor about this. Your balance is shifted with your growing belly so it could make it a little more difficult to ice skate. I love ice skating as well!

david_n_cole

I was told by my Dr. that this is one of the no-nos during pregnancy.  I would definately check with your Dr. before hitting the ice. 

AACraven85

I love iceskating, and we usually do it frequently in the winter. I'll be sitting it out this season though- just like skiing- better safe than sorry. Even though I never fall, I am concerned about what a PP mentioned about your center of gravity being off due to having a big baby belly.

myszko

I don't plan on ice skating.  I never fall, but with my balance shifted it probably won't be quite as easy as it used to be.  Plus if there are always some of those little teenage boys weaving in and out of people, you could get knocked down.  There's always some risk of falling. For me, it's not worth the possibility.  

somegirl425

Maybe i'm more confident because I've played hockey for 25 years?  I just know so many people who have done it.  Heck, I have seen figure skating coaches out doing training sessions on ice, obviously well into their pregnancies.  I am honestly more clumsy walking in my shoes that I am on skates so I am going to go out to public skating and do some laps.  I'm not going to go crazy and skate really hard or play games on the ice.  If I'm allowed to walk, work out at the gym, swim, etc...I am definitely going to skate!

mittensonkittens

I wouldn't do it.  It isn't about the chances of falling, but the consequenses if you do.  You can fall HARD on the ice. 

AppleRidge

somegirl425:

Maybe i'm more confident because I've played hockey for 25 years?  I just know so many people who have done it.  Heck, I have seen figure skating coaches out doing training sessions on ice, obviously well into their pregnancies.  I am honestly more clumsy walking in my shoes that I am on skates so I am going to go out to public skating and do some laps.  I'm not going to go crazy and skate really hard or play games on the ice.  If I'm allowed to walk, work out at the gym, swim, etc...I am definitely going to skate!

The difference between skating and walking, working out, swimming, etc., is the way in which you'd fall, and the surface.  With ice skating, you tend to fall on your back / hips, with no opportunity to break your fall with your hands.  To me, that's more dangerous.  And hockey just seems flat out stupid, given that running into people and knocking them down is an essential part of the game.

somegirl425

BBHME:

somegirl425:

Maybe i'm more confident because I've played hockey for 25 years?  I just know so many people who have done it.  Heck, I have seen figure skating coaches out doing training sessions on ice, obviously well into their pregnancies.  I am honestly more clumsy walking in my shoes that I am on skates so I am going to go out to public skating and do some laps.  I'm not going to go crazy and skate really hard or play games on the ice.  If I'm allowed to walk, work out at the gym, swim, etc...I am definitely going to skate!

The difference between skating and walking, working out, swimming, etc., is the way in which you'd fall, and the surface.  With ice skating, you tend to fall on your back / hips, with no opportunity to break your fall with your hands.  To me, that's more dangerous.  And hockey just seems flat out stupid, given that running into people and knocking them down is an essential part of the game.

You should only fall on your butt if you are skating backwards or sitting too far back on your skates...otherwise momentum will cause you to fall forward.  That is if you know what you are doing I guess.  Honestly where I live, the sidewalks, parking lots, etc are covered in ice and snow right now so I can guarantee you I have more of a chance of slipping on my butt or hips out walking!  And yeah it strikes me as funny that girls would chance playing hockey but I've never heard of anyone having an issues at all.  The baby seems to be pretty well protected in there I guess:)  I guess it's up to the person really on how comfortable the feel doing something and how much they want to worry about how it will affect the baby!

AACraven85

somegirl425:

Maybe i'm more confident because I've played hockey for 25 years?  I just know so many people who have done it.  Heck, I have seen figure skating coaches out doing training sessions on ice, obviously well into their pregnancies.  I am honestly more clumsy walking in my shoes that I am on skates so I am going to go out to public skating and do some laps.  I'm not going to go crazy and skate really hard or play games on the ice.  If I'm allowed to walk, work out at the gym, swim, etc...I am definitely going to skate!

I think your situation is different than most since skating is your norm. I know my husband is more coordinated on ice than walking as well, as he's played hockey most of his life. I think if you have that kind of experience, your falls are a little more controlled than your average skater... you aren't exactly going to fall belly first if you even fall at all. Have fun out there !

AACraven85

BBHME:

somegirl425:

Maybe i'm more confident because I've played hockey for 25 years?  I just know so many people who have done it.  Heck, I have seen figure skating coaches out doing training sessions on ice, obviously well into their pregnancies.  I am honestly more clumsy walking in my shoes that I am on skates so I am going to go out to public skating and do some laps.  I'm not going to go crazy and skate really hard or play games on the ice.  If I'm allowed to walk, work out at the gym, swim, etc...I am definitely going to skate!

The difference between skating and walking, working out, swimming, etc., is the way in which you'd fall, and the surface.  With ice skating, you tend to fall on your back / hips, with no opportunity to break your fall with your hands.  To me, that's more dangerous.  And hockey just seems flat out stupid, given that running into people and knocking them down is an essential part of the game.

just have to clarify- that this is not an essential part of the game. My husbands men's league is no hitting or checking; I assume women's leagues are probably the same. It's not like the NHL with people knocking each other down and dropping their gloves to brawl

AppleRidge

AACraven85:

BBHME:

And hockey just seems flat out stupid, given that running into people and knocking them down is an essential part of the game.

just have to clarify- that this is not an essential part of the game. My husbands men's league is no hitting or checking; I assume women's leagues are probably the same. It's not like the NHL with people knocking each other down and dropping their gloves to brawl

I was mostly referring to just getting skates tangled up while fighting for the puck, but I have seen many a womens' game where checking was disallowed but still happened.

RileyGrace

I'm a former competitive figure skater and I won't be skating while pregnant.  I'm not personally scared of falling and hurting the baby, I'm worried about maybe falling and hurting myself.  Like a pp said, your balance changes and with our joints loosening, there is a higher risk of hurting yourself.

The last thing I need is a sprain or worse for delivery or with a newborn.  Not worth the risk IMO, I can wait until next year.

AudreyHpbrn

I work in the hockey industry and walk on the ice and plan to do so up until 8 months then I will not.

Go for it just be safe.

starlily313

I've figure skated for almost 17 years. I do it weekly. I adore it.

My doctor was not thrilled about me continuing to skate, but permitted me to do so in a limited capacity based on my skill level. He advised me not to jump, spin, do any quick rotational movements or skate backwards. I was also not allowed to skate beyond 20 weeks.

I did skate laps weekly during my first trimester, but honestly it was not much fun since I was limited in what I could do and because I was so worried about the potential for a fall. Even though I was confident in my abilities, I was worried about other skaters inadvertently crashing into me, especially newbies out on public ice sessions & hockey skaters speeding around the rink.

Also, it was very uncomfortable to bend over and lace my skates, even though I wasn't showing yet. It aggravated my RLP. By my 19th/20th week I had "popped" and quit skating for the timebeing. My balance feels off just walking around; I didn't want to chance it on the ice.

And while ideally an experienced skater would fall onto their backside or hips, not on the belly, I have had hard, jarring falls onto my tailbone that left me breathless and barely able to walk. Who's to say for sure that a hard fall like that can't cause damage to the baby? I've also sprained my wrist badly despite falling in the "ideal" way. As a pp pointed out, our muscles & ligaments are so much looser now that there is a greater potential for a pull or strain.

OP, do you skate frequently or just in the winter? If it's just a seasonal, winter thing, then I recommend you not skate this year. Even my coach, who skated through two pregnancies herself told me not to skate while pregnant unless I did it consistently. The shifts in balance are just too dangerous otherwise.

chardonnay24

I'm sure it's fine. I personally wouldn't, because I am guaranteed to fall at least three times.

magdalina.h

I wouldn't because your gravity is changing and you'll have a greater risk of falling.

veggiegirl528

Even though you're pretty good, you have no idea how good the people around you are like a pp said.  I went roller blading pre-preg and was doing awesome all evening, then some teenage kid comes racing around the corner & smacks right into the back of me & sends me sailing to the floor.  It hurt SO bad I had to get off the rink ASAP & break for a few songs to let my a** & tailbone recover a bit.  It hurt pretty bad the next day too, I can't imagine how horrible that would have been if I was carrying a baby.