We all have our favorite pastimes or hobbies, the things we cannot live without. But what happens when something gets in the way of those hobbies? For many women, discovering that they are pregnant is both exciting and worrying. Suddenly, there is a whole other life that they must care for and keep safe. In short, their body is now home to another person and may be weaker or more at-risk than before.

So how do pregnant women balance these considerations with their hobbies? Fortunately, it is considered healthy for a woman to get regular but moderate exercise during her pregnancy. Just like diet and exercise is important for everyone else, these are also important for pregnant women. Exercise provides endorphins and keeps your body healthy and in shape. However, it is important to note what sort of exercise is healthy and safe. You also want to figure out how far into your pregnancy the activity is safe. Is it something you can do for the full term or do you need to phase it out be a certain point?

Think about jogging and walking versus horseback riding or dirt-bike racing. And what about other sports like kayaking? Well, if you are a pregnant kayaker, you have a lot of things to consider, particularly in terms of safety and equipment. This can be a very daunting task. Luckily, this article is here to help you figure out where to start and checkpoints to make along the way!

Is it Safe to Kayak While Pregnant?

If you are pregnant, that does not mean that you must give up kayaking for the next nine months. There are safe ways to paddle while with child, but it is very important that you consult with your doctor before heading out on the water.

Your OB/GYN will be able to give you specific cautions or help you determine whether it is safe in the context of your specific pregnancy. For example, if you have specific conditions, pregnancy-related or unrelated, a physician is in the best position to help you determine whether or not kayaking is safe for you and your baby.

In most cases, if you have a healthy stable pregnancy, your doctor will likely say kayaking on slow or calm waters is safe. Once your doctor gives you the okay, you are free to continue engaging in your favorite activity! Remember to follow all the advice that they give you on personal safety and things to be wary of, as well as make sure their number is saved in your phone (which should be in a safe, water tight container in your kayak) in case of emergency.

Things to Remember When Kayaking While Pregnant

Though you have gained the permission of your doctor, and likely their advice and concerns, there are several things that you should remember when hitting the water.

1. What type of kayaking do you prefer? If your answer is anything but calm water paddling, you are going to have to change it up. Your doctor will likely tell you this as well. Though racing while pregnant is not unheard of, the best way to still kayak and also remain safe is to stick to the gentler waters.
2. You might not be able to do all the things you could before you were pregnant. Your body is fueling two (or more) lives right now, so it may be weaker than before you were pregnant. The changes in your body in the coming months will also alter your abilities, as your balance and strength change.
3. Your body is your best friend. It’s communicating with you, telling you what is okay and what might not be. Listen to it.
4. Be realistic and practical. If you’re a beginning paddler or wanting to start out, during your pregnancy is not the best time to start the learning process, for safety reasons and because your body is changing.
5. Make sure that you are fueling your body properly. Now more than ever, it is important that you are eating well, getting all the nutrients that you and your baby need, and staying properly hydrated. The last thing you want is to succumb to fatigue or dehydration in the middle of kayaking.
6. If you are experienced paddler, keep that in mind. Remember what you know about yourself, your skills, and kayaking in general. This does apply to less experienced paddlers as well. You should weigh your knowledge with the advice of doctors to determine what the best course of action is for you.
7. It is best for you to always have a companion with you, so that someone can help you if need-be. You may need help getting in and out of your kayak, carrying your boat, or an accident may happen. In this situations, an extra set of hands can be vital.
8. Consider the context of your kayaking excursion. There is a lot to remember in terms of the immediate considerations, those regarding the kayak itself and the physical demands. However, things like weather (and temperature), season, and what you feel prepared for also warrant your thought.

Whitewater Kayaking: Not Safe for Pregnant Women

Perhaps you are the daredevil type and crave the rush of the rapids. While exhilarating, whitewater is incredibly unpredictable and therefore dangerous. Thus, pregnant women should stick to calm waters for the duration of their pregnancy. This is an activity that most people consider dangerous for those who are not carrying a child, so the risk of destabilization, injury, and worse is likely heightened with the added factor of pregnancy.

In addition to the overall safety concerns and the possibility of accidents, it is important to note that the changes in a pregnant woman’s body will make kayaking the unstable rapids all the more difficult. Changes in balance make it more difficult to stay right-side-up and increase the possibility of injuries and accidents, either from crashing into rocks or capsizing.

Changes in energy level will challenge your endurance and make you tire quickly, thus resulting in the onset of dangerous fatigue sooner than you might have expected. This fatigue has the potential to inhibit your movement, slow your reflexes, and prevent you from keeping yourself upright and safe. Over-exerting yourself is another possibility, seeing as your endurance and abilities may be impacted by the changes mentioned above.

This is dangerous both during and after kayaking, given both fatigue and necessary time to recover. Because your body is growing a whole other life, the recuperation may take a long time and be more grueling, perhaps putting one of both of your lives in danger. Therefore, while pregnant, whitewater should be off-limits to you, so that everyone stays safe.

Best Kayaks for Pregnant Women

It is obvious, but I’ll say it anyways: when you are pregnant, your body is growing and changing. This means that your equipment will likely cease to fit, be safe, or be comfortable.

Think about the fit of your dry-suit and personal flotation device (PFD), the weight of your paddles, and the size of your kayak. Will you fit in them as your body gets larger? For how long? If you are determined to push through and keep paddling through all nine months, these things are especially important to consider. Many pregnant paddlers decide to take to the shores once their equipment does not fit.

However, if you are in the market for a kayak for your pregnancy, there are a few things to consider.

• Make sure the cockpit is big enough to accommodate your growing belly.
• Consider the balance of the kayak and how different it is from the kayaks you have used before. How long will it take you to adjust?
• How big of an investment is this? Will you continue to use the kayak after your pregnancy?

Once you’ve thought about all of these things, you are ready to look for a kayak for your pregnancy. Here are some to consider. All three have decent seating size and are built for beginners, meaning that they are intended to be light, stable, and easy to maneuver.

The stability will help you avoid the stress of flipping over, meaning you’ll worry less about your body and your baby. The light weight makes it easier to move and carry, meaning you’ll exert yourself less. The ease of movement also helps alleviate your workload and the stress on your body. You may also want to consider kayaks with dry compartments, so that you can keep your phone and any food you may bring with you nice and dry, as well as easily reachable.

• L.L. Bean Manatee 10 Solo
• Wilderness Systems Pungo 120
• Perception Pescador 10

Fueling Your Body

We hear it over and over again, regardless of whether or not we are men or women. Fueling your body properly and sufficiently is vital to the success and safety of any athlete participating in any activity. As someone who is pregnant, this task can be even more daunting and burdensome than it is for the average person.

You must make sure that you eat enough to provide energy and sustenance to both you and your baby, so that you have enough to expend. Moreover, this food should be healthy and provide all the right nutrients you need.

It should also be the sorts of food that provide stable, long-lasting energy, rather than quick spikes of energy followed by a crash. Below I’ve included ideas for meals and snacks, so that you can be prepared for kayaking at any time of day.

• Wholegrain bagel or toast for breakfast.
• Yogurt (preferably plain and Greek) with fruits for breakfast or a snack.
• Scrambled eggs for breakfast.
• A piece of fruit with peanut butter for breakfast or a snack.
• A salad with fish and some vegetables for lunch or dinner. This should be sealed in a waterproof container if you’re taking it with you.
• Popcorn! Yes popcorn! Just remember to get the lightly buttered and salted kind, or skip the add-ons altogether.
• A sandwich made with turkey or chicken on whole wheat bread. If you can, use meat that you have cooked, rather than the processed deli meat sold at grocery stores.
• Red or green bell peppers as a snack. These may also be added into meals to reap their nutrient benefits in another way.
• Broccoli as a snack, ingredient in a meal, or a side dish.
• A bran muffin or some bran cereal for breakfast to get your fiber in!
• A sweet potato for lunch or dinner, to boost your Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Aside from the food you put in your body, you should also be thinking about hydrating your body. Remember to drink water all day long, starting right when you wake up. You should take at least one large water bottle with you in your kayak to stay hydrated on the water.

If it’s a sunny or hot day, you should consider taking another. Additionally, it is important to apply sunscreen to your skin to avoid burns that could deplete your reserves of water and nutrients more quickly. Consider taking a sports drink with you as well, to replace rapidly depleting electrolytes (think Gatorade or Powerade).

So there you are, a whole slew of thoughts, considerations, and advice on kayaking while pregnant. Remember, never go out on the water pregnant unless your doctor has given you the green light to do so.

Make sure your equipment is up to snuff and that you have brought along food, water, sunscreen, and a trusty companion (who is a person). Beforehand, remember also that you should be hydrating regularly and having good, solid, energy-building meals each and every day.

For more advice, consider reaching out to your fellow pregnant or once-pregnant kayakers and find out what has worked for them. Then, consider the differences between yourself and those you have spoken to and the apply their advice accordingly. Not everyone will like the same equipment or get the same thing out of particular foods. Happy paddling, for you and for baby!