Contrary to what most people believe, kayaking is a calming activity. Of course, there is some level of risk involved in it but still given its other benefits, you can easily ignore those risks. Kayaking is also a great physical activity for a pregnant woman who wants to get fresh air and want to feel relaxed at the end of the day.
So, is kayaking a good idea while being pregnant? Well, that is a tricky question. See, you need to ask your doctors first before drawing a conclusion. We have to understand that each of us is different. You need to have a better understanding of the limitations of your body. Once you get a green signal from your doctor, you can hop into a kayak. But if you have a high-risk pregnancy, you might have to check out these following factors before making a final decision –
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Visit A Doc
Before you start kayaking in a river or in flat water, you need to visit your doctor and ask him about your newfound passion for kayaking. Ask him straight whether it will be safe for you and your child. You need to pay close attention to your doctor’s advice and based on the recommendations, you need to plan accordingly. If the risks are too might, the doctor will most certainly forbid you from taking part in such activities like kayaking and a responsible organization, Kayak Manual will most definitely ask you not to participate in a physically intensive sport like kayaking. Focus on you and your unborn child’s health first and you might realize your dream of kayaking later.
Know Your Body’s Limits
In case, your doctor allows you to kayak for a short period of time, you still need to take into consideration some factors like – limit of your body. While being pregnant, you simply can’t push your body’s limit too far. This might be too dangerous. When you are pregnant, your body changes every day and every day you might have to confront a new reality.
When you are pregnant, you might start noticing things like – your muscles are not as strong as before. You are carrying life and therefore, it is quite expected that your body will go through rapid changes. Some women tend to gain weight after getting pregnant and there is nothing that you can do about that. Since you will spend most of your time taking rest or taking part in leisurely activities, your body might lose its shape. So, think twice before heading out to the water.
Calm Water
Try to paddle on slow-moving water as this would help you stay relaxed most of the time. Avoid paddling in choppy water while being pregnant. As long as the pregnancy risk is low, you can always enjoy paddling in flatwater as flatwater paddling is not that challenging. Relaxing paddling experience is what you can expect if you decide to paddle on a lake or a slow-moving river.
Tandem Kayaking
Tandem kayaking is definitely a great idea for pregnant women. In case, you get into some kind of trouble, your partner will be there in that case, to overcome those issues. Moreover, having a kayaking partner has its own advantages. For example, he/she can help you transport the kayak. This could be a win-win situation for both of you.
Safety for Pregnant Woman
Kayaking definitely makes you feel tired at the end of the day. So, that means, you need to carry some snacks with you while kayaking to keep yourself energized throughout the journey. Always wear a PFD while kayaking because swimming will be a lot harder when you are with a child.
Stay hydrated throughout the journey and try to use kayak Bimini top in case the heat is too much to bear. Apply sunscreen in case, you tend to get sunburns.
