Is it Safe to Go Boating While Pregnant?

Boating can be a relaxing pastime -- even while you are pregnant -- if you are cautious about how and when you go. If you want to go out on the ocean, a lake or a river while expecting a baby, you will often be able to do so. However, you should be aware of certain unique considerations and precautions that would not apply to individuals who are not pregnant. Additionally, you should only go boating if your physician approves you doing so.

Certain boating safety principles will apply to anyone, whether they are pregnant or not. For example, you should know to sit still, move slowly and not rock the boat, especially while riding in a very small craft. You should, of course, wear a life jacket during the entire time you are out on the water. While you already will be abstaining from alcohol due to your pregnancy, you should ensure that the person steering the boat also abstains from drinking, since wrecks that occur on the water can be just as serious as those that occur on land. Finally, although you should make every attempt to avoid capsizing, you should still know how to swim before you go boating, just in case.

With a doctor's approval, there is usually no reason why a healthy woman who is having a normal pregnancy cannot ride in a boat while pregnant. However, Boating Times Long Island recommends that women avoid boating during their first trimester, as well as during the last eight weeks of the pregnancy. This is simply a precaution since the baby is most vulnerable during those times.

If your doctor approves you going boating, make sure you choose a calm day and location with good weather and no rough waves or currents. Also, be careful not to go on a boating trip that would prevent you from getting quick access to medical care, should you need it. Finally, make sure you locate a life preserver that will fit you, even while pregnant, before you launch; the life preserver you normally wear may no longer fit.

In some cases, a boat's motion on the water can sometimes cause or at least aggravate nausea and other common symptoms of morning sickness, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This can make ordinary seasickness worse than you may be used to, especially if you are person who is liable to suffer from the condition. Although seasickness medication can help alleviate these symptoms, be careful to only take medication that is approved for use by pregnant women.

Boating Times Long Island: "Boating While Pregnant"

American Pregnancy Association: "Pregnancy and Travel"

Boating Times Long Island: "Moms-to-Be on the Sea"