Skiing when pregnant?

A snowHead

I'm firmly in the don't ski while pregnant camp simply from the "How would you feel if something happened" argument. I think I would also be too worried while she was skiing to enjoy it myself so we compromised she stayed at home and I didn't!!

A snowHead

I think that it is definitely a personal choice issue. If someone wants to ski, then it is up to them. Similarly if someone chooses not to, due to the consequences if something went wrong, then that is also fine. The problem comes, when, as ever, people stop minding their own business and start telling other people what to do.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well done Kramer.

I don't think some of these pregnant women are serious about skiing anyway, I can only speak for helen ls and myself when I say that we would only ever contemplate getting pregnant DURING a ski holiday so that said child is expelled and with nanny in time for next season.

Twisted Evil

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Kramer, Quite correct. However there's a definite difference between advising people, and telling them what to do. It seems to me that previous reponses have been along the former lines, with helpful suggestions and pointers towards advice from experts and people with experience of just this issue. Smile

The original poster did ask for advice after all...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Alexandra - would you be requiring any assistance with that plan? rolling eyes

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Alan, I didn't dare come out with that comment!

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You'd better get a move on Alan, I reckon according to Alexandra's time frame you have a month before the annual window of opportunity closes Wink

After all it is free

Alan, are you a certified child-minder? Laughing

Kramer, and PG: Quite right. There is no problem for those who decide not to ski when pregnant. Our best skiing buddies did that many years ago when they mis-timed the conception of Sarah (now 11, and probably conceived in our spare room!)) and stayed at home that year. But for those who decide to go skiing, it is important for the rest of us to know there is very little data on risks to the baby (see http://www.skimag.com/skimag/fitness/article/0,12795,543592,00.html): we must not get all righteous and condemn them for their decision.
As promised, I have asked obstretric colleagues on their advice. Not unexpected: those that don't ski say don't go at all; those that are keen skiers say it is problably OK in early pregnancy, but don't like being pushed on when "early" stops. As I said: there is no evidence base - we are all just guessing.

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Alexandra, well he's certifiable anyway. Very Happy

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Alexandra, I don't think Alan was volunteering as child-minder. And I'm not sure if there is certification for what he proposed.... Certainly no such course in my local Adult Classes booklet. Pity.

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Well, I did once study Practical Gynaecology but now I only dabble.

To keep my hand in.

I'll get me coat Embarassed

Sorry folks, had to do some work in the meantime. Alexandra, I assume you mean that you need someone to occupy the rest of the brood whilst you get on with making number X? We didn't put anything in writing did we? Little Angel

You know it makes sense.

Alexandra, if you like, I would be more than happy to offer any advice or help with conception on your next skiing holiday. Wink

In a purely non-judgemental way, of course.

PG, I agree, most advice given on the other side was helpful, however in a few rare cases it was poorly informed and very prescriptive in nature, almost spilling over into abuse. One of the central principles of medicine is that of autonomy, that is it is completely up to the person who asks for the advice whether they take it or not, and you shouldn't criticise someone who choses to do something different to the course of action that you advise.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thank you for the offer lads, but I think you're missing the point... if you want to be involved you should probably tell me where we'll be skiing next season rather than talking about this next month.

PS I'll be in Cevinia next weekend! Wink

A snowHead

PG,

A snowHead

sarah,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

According to this article you even have to think about the wisdom of flying to get to the slopes, let alone the actual skiing itself....

Are jet-setting mothers-to-be wise to fly?

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PG, not all airlines are so particular about carrying women in late pregnancy, as shown here Shocked

.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

PG,

Glad your link was from the Telegraph rather than the Times whose resident medical correspondent Dr Thomas Stuttaford would surely have had some pearls to share with us Evil or Very Mad

(the guy is very opinionated and out of date on obstetric matters and winds me up no end!)

It was interesting but the guy quoted was surely wrong...I checked around a few weeks ago for a client and as Jonpim says, many airlines e.g. BA, BMI and the major american carriers will (with a Drs letter confirming fitness) fly women up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Some of the charters are less relaxed.

Even I can't quite imagine anyone wanting to go skiing at such a late stage though Confused

Having said that a few moguls might be more effective than an induction of labour for someone faced with that prospect Wink

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Hi Sarah!
As you can tell from the discussion on Epicski, there are many factors that come into play; the conditions, the crowds, the skill and fitness level of the mom to be.
Someone mentioned joint laxity.This is a critical issue! The hormone relaxin is supposed to relax the pelvis for labor, but its affects are often systemic.

In sports medicne talk, we speak of injuries that are Caused to happen by tight muscles, and Allowed to happen by muscles that have become hyperflexible. Women, for the most part tend towards excessive flexibility. Even muscles that seem tight may actually be hurting becausue they are weak, and unable to perform the tasks demanded of them.

If your prenatal fitness program involves strength training, and you know of an uncrowded mountain , not too icy mountain, and you are a proficient skier, you maay be ok. But keep in mind there is a risk, and ultimately the choice is up to you.
Cheers!

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Lisamer, Welcome to snowHeads. Good to have a fitness specialist among us! Going slightly off topic, I'd be interested in expert opinion on the question of different physiologies between the sexes that you touch on above (flexibility, strength), from what age this makes a significant difference (with respect to children, from puberty?), and how ski-specific fitness training should as a consequence differ for both, if at all.

(We here at snowHeads do of course religiously prepare Wink

for our ski trips well in advance.... )

After all it is free

PG, skiing magazines and other skiing literature are full of this advice on "Preparing for your ski trip". I think the emphasis is wrong. This suggests we can be couch pototoes for half the year (but as JaneL showed, even this has its dangers) and then leap into exercise mode as the skiing trip approaches. I hope Lisamer wont shoot me down, but I understand that continuous steady exercise is better than alternating periods of intense exercise with periods of very little exercise. Certainly our knee experts say those going back to serious exercise after a long lay-off are a classic group for knee injury.
I suggest the responsible advice is whatever exercise is deemed suitable for so-called ski-trip-preparation should be all-year, and not just for christmas.

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Jonpim, I'm sure you're right, continuous preparation is bound to be good.... but I was getting more at the fact that I've noticed the kids here in the ski study section at school - who in theory do ski-specific fitness preparation - work in mixed sex groups through to the the 4th/5th year at least (don't know about later) and seem to be doing indentical exercises/sports. Given the different physiologies as they grow I was wondering if this is really sensible. Also the intensity of the exercise does concern me at times, when I see 11 year olds already with considerable muscle bulk, makes you think about the effect on growing bodies and whether this is really wise. Just musing out aloud......

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PG, I see your point. The girls down my gym do the same exercises as the boys. Girls and boys do the same training at my daughters swimming group. But should they? Lisamer, can you help us out here?

PS: could you tell us more about "the ski study section at school"?

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PG
I did some research for my degree on damage caused to growing children by excessive exercise.....I'm trying to dredge the memory banks cos it was a long time ago!! One of the things I recall is damage to "distal radial epiphyses" - that's the growth plates at the end of long bones to you & me!
This article talks about overuse injuries to young athletes & suggests disuse & overuse are main causes of damage in young athletes. The age 14 is always suggested as the "cut off point" but of course all children are different & grow at varying rates. I'll have a hunt round to see what else I can find - I'm sure much more research has been done since I last looked into this (along with decimalisation, 2 world wars.....)
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ortho/oj/1998/oj11sp98p36.html

Jonpim, at the collège (1st to 4th years) in BSM, one of the six classes in each year consists of the 'ski-study' section. The entrance requirements are pretty stiff - they take little account of primary school reports on academic ability to start with, preferring to put the candidates through a Maths and a French exam instead, taking a full morning. Regardless of skiing ability, if you don't have above average results in these they won't let you in - their approach is that with the increased pressure the kids are under because of all the absenteeism for training/racing/courses, anyone who might struggle academically would soon fall by the wayside.

Although they do take the previous year's race results into account, the 'sélection' race in Tignes March/April time is key, with three GS runs. Competition is very stiff. Virtually all the best kids from the Savoie are there, from Tignes to Courchevel, around 100 or so. Occasionally a few from other areas of France, one or two Brits now and again as well.

Lastly you have to perform well in a day long gymnastics/athletics trial, including circuit training, cross country, sprinting, climbing, agility tests....

Overall they take around 12 boys and 12 girls into the first year. Boy candidates outnumber girls 3 to 2. If you want to get in from the second year onwards it is increasingly difficult, especially if the class has few failures/drop-outs from the previous year.

Once in it's a very tough regime from the word go. They do at least twice the hours of sport (wrestling, rugby, gymnastics, judo, football, running, you name it) each week a 'normal' pupil would do, plus the skiing in the season (4 half-days a week + courses + races).

Ski Bunny, Many thanks Ski Bunny, that's a very useful link. Helps to have some understanding of the issues each time I have to accompany the daughter to the sports doc for check-ups! Bit worrying though, I have to say....

You know it makes sense.

PG, I agree, some of these research reports can be all doom & gloom - making it sound like your child is almost guaranteed to suffer from whichever complaint they are reporting on!
If you google "childhood sports injuries" or "overtraining in young althletes" quite a lot of stuff comes up. I found 2 fairly recent (2002) Harvard fact sheets called overtraining in youth sports & overuse injuries in youth sports. They both come up if you google "harvard fact sheet youth sports" & seem to be aimed at parents more than the medical fraternity.

Help!!

Skiing when pregnant?

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