When it comes to sports, it’s common knowledge that people get really dedicated to their exercise of choice. Roller skating is no different in that respect. When people get bitten by the skating bug, they often take every opportunity possible to make sure that they are able to keep on skating. That’s why there are so many regulars at your local skating rink, after all.
Of course, there’s always going to be a moment where you may need to rethink your roller skating habits—such as a moment when you suffer from a serious injury and need to recover. Those moments are pretty obvious, but what about things that aren’t always so clear to begin with? For example, can a pregnant woman go roller skating?
For the casual skater, even asking such a question may seem like a shocker. However, there have been studies that strongly encourage pregnant women to enjoy gentle exercise throughout their gestation. So, what’s the deal here. Can a pregnant woman go roller skating?
If you’re expecting (or are expecting to be expecting soon), you’re probably wondering what this might mean for your roller skating time. Here’s what the experts are saying about roller skating while pregnant.
Can A Pregnant Woman Go Roller Skating?
Unfortunately, we have some bad news for women who might want to strap some skates on while they’ve got a baby bump. The overall consensus is that you should not go roller skating while you’re pregnant, and that you should wait until after you give birth to hit the roller rink once more.
Skating is just not safe for a woman who’s carrying a child. Roller skating, rollerblading, artistic skating, soaping, and ice skating are all included in this statement. There are several issues that come into play that can cause serious harm to the baby, including:
- Falls
- Blunt Trauma
- High Impact Aerobics
To understand why roller skating and pregnancy don’t mix, we’re going to break down the biggest risks for expecting mothers…
The Risk Of Falling While Roller Skating
There are a slew of activities that are deemed dangerous for pregnant women strictly due to the chances of having a fall—horseback riding, gymnastics, and yes, roller skating. When you’re not pregnant, falling on your back or on your stomach might be painful but it won’t crush part of you. It’s usually more of an annoyance than anything.
When you’re pregnant, things change. A fall can cause serious, life-threatening bone injuries to your unborn child. It can even cause a miscarriage, if the fall hits in a particularly devastating way. That’s not something you should risk.
To make matters worse, it’s important to remember that your body is changing. You are gaining a large amount of weight at the front of your body, which can throw your center of balance off. Hormones, too, can worsen this, leading what would normally be a graceful skater to get thrown off her feet.
The Risk Of Blunt Trauma While Roller Skating
Speaking of falling risks, it’s important to remember that roller skating can be considered a contact sport. This is especially true if you are thinking of attempting roller derby while you’re expecting. Roller derby, as well as other skating-based sports, are known for having people getting pushed around.
People don’t realize how fragile a woman’s body can be when it comes to pushes while pregnant. Depending on how hard a push from another person can be, it can cause blunt trauma to the unborn child. This, in turn, can also lead to a miscarriage, or compounded problems via a fall.
Pregnant women should avoid any sort of hard impact in or around their bellies. Impact sports, therefore, are a very bad idea—and that includes roller skating.
The Risk Of High Impact Aerobics
Believe it or not, having a nice, low-impact workout is considered to be highly advisable by doctors. With many women, even having a high-impact workout is fine while they’re pregnant. However, there’s a catch here.
High impact workouts, including things like roller skating, can put stress on a woman who is having a high-risk pregnancy. High-risk pregnancies that deal with high levels of physical activity are more likely to have premature labor, miscarriages, and birth complications.
Unfortunately, there’s not really any way to predict which high-risk pregnancy will have this kind of experience while they’re exercising. As a precautionary measure, most doctors suggest sticking to low-impact sports like water aerobics instead. If you have a history of miscarriages, then avoiding high-impact sports is a must.
Are There Any Exceptions To This Rule?
It’s common to hear about pregnant women who want to come up with a way to keep their sporting lives intact while they’re expecting. After all, it’s only normal to want to maintain your lifestyle for a little longer before the big change happens.
Though you may be tempted to try to hit the rink with extra padding, you still shouldn’t attempt to roller skate if you’re pregnant. In many cases, roller rink professionals won’t even allow pregnant women on the rink itself.
How Long After Giving Birth Can Women Return To Roller Skating?
If you were worried about your roller skating days being over just because you’re having a baby, don’t be. There are plenty of roller skating enthusiasts who come back to the rink after having a kid. In some derby circles, it’s even jokingly called “the nine-month injury.”
Thankfully, you don’t have to wait a full nine months postpartum to get your skates on.
Much like with most forms of strenuous activity, women who had a birth without complications can usually start skating (casually) after four to six weeks of recovery time. If you had a difficult birth, or aren’t sure whether you’re totally ready to hit the rink, it’s best to listen to your body.
How Long Does It Take For A Postpartum Woman To Rejoin A Derby?
If you are a roller derby fan, then you definitely have your recovery cut out for you. The vast majority of women will not be able to immediately return to their roller derby days after a six-week rest period.
Women who are looking to get into roller derby after having a baby usually have to train up their bodies for at least a month or two before they can go back into their competition. If you had a C-section, it could take even longer.
What Can I Do To Speed Up Recovery?
Recovering from birth is not a “one size fits all” equation. You should work on getting as much rest as possible, drinking lots of water, and eating well. When you feel like you’re ready enough to start light roller skating exercise, go for it.
Listening to your body is the best and easiest way to recover from giving birth. The more you do right by it, the faster you will be able to go back to the roller rink. If you have complications, it’s better to take things slowly, use compression garments, and try to do some light exercises before you tie up your skates.
When To Ask Your Doctor About Roller Skating Postpartum
Can a pregnant woman go roller skating? Absolutely not, and you shouldn’t have to go to a doctor to find that out. However, there are definitely some times when it’s better to ask for advice for a doctor. Those times are usually postpartum.
Everyone has their own timeline when it comes to recovering from birth, and that includes getting to the point where they are capable of enjoying skating again. If you are a high-risk pregnancy, had birth complications, or just aren’t sure what to do, ask your doctor.
At the very least, your doctor will be able to tell you the following:
- When you can return to your skating activities
- What you can do to speed up your recovery
- If there are any complications that can impact your recovery
- If you’re ready to get into high-impact skating
Conclusion
If you were one of the many women out there who was hoping to get the green light to go roller skating while pregnant, we’re sorry to disappoint you. The risk that roller skating carries to both a mother and an unborn child makes this activity highly unadvisable for anyone who is pregnant—even in the early stages.
The key takeaway here is that pregnant women should not roller skate or participate in a roller derby. How can a pregnant woman go roller skating without putting herself at risk of a fall? It’s not possible. So, you’re better off not doing anything relating to skating until after you’ve given birth.
Though pregnancy can cause even the most avid roller skater to take a break, it’s not a death knell on your skating days. Most women are able to do light skating four weeks after giving birth. With more aggressive skating activities like roller derbies, you should expect to be back in action within three months’ time.
