5 Sports You Shouldn't Start While Pregnant

Becoming pregnant can be a great joy in the life of a woman, whether it's your first or your fifth. However, there are many sacrifices that a woman must make for the greater good and health of her unborn child. While there are many myths and tales about what you can and cannot do while pregnant, most people are surprised to hear that you can do pretty much everything that you normally do. Light, moderate exercise and sports activities are not harmful to your unborn baby (except for rare cases or high risk pregnancies in which case, your doctor will inform you of your restrictions).

If you weren't a marathon runner before getting pregnant, this is not the best time to start but if you participated in certain sports or activities, you can still carry on with most of them as long as you are not directly putting your unborn child in harm, overexerting yourself or becoming overheated.

There are some things that simply aren't a good idea while you're pregnant. While it may seem obvious to some people, it's still best to put it in writing as opposed to depending on common sense to prevail (as we all know it sometimes doesn't). Here are five sports my OB says you shouldn't start while pregnant.

Scuba Diving

Aside from the normal dangers Mom could face- such as the bends- there are also many dangers to the unborn baby. Your fetus could be harmed even at depths that are safe to you. Save your underwater adventures for after baby is out of the tummy!

Bull Riding

Do we really have to explain this one? Big angry bulls, sharp horns, lots of bucking... not good for baby or Mommy... If you really want to try your hand with the bulls, wait until you've had the baby.

Rock Climbing

While it may sound like fun, this is best avoided while expecting. Even with ropes and safety devices, this can be dangerous. Equipment is not always 100% dependable and there are also injuries that can occur to the unborn baby even if mom is safe. Additionally, extreme heights are not healthy for your unborn child.

Water Skiing

There are many dangers that come with water skiing. If you fall or the boat wrecks, it can cause serious harm to you and your unborn baby. A high velocity impact with the water could cause harm to your unborn baby even if you are not hurt yourself. Other injuries that may not directly hurt the fetus but that harm you (such as a broken bone) can cause excess stress on your body which is not healthy while you are carrying a child.

Auto Racing (Yes, in some parts of the world, this is considered a sport :p)

Auto racing is dangerous- highly dangerous. Wrecks can occur and even with protective gear and autos designed for crashes, injuries and death can occur. However, to someone who is pregnant, the risk to the unborn baby is even higher. High speeds, bumps and jolts or even small crashes can harm the fetus even if the mother feels ok.

Feel free to go for a jog, toss the 'ol pigskin around in the yard or even shoot a few hoops in the driveway but keep baby safe and avoid extreme sports like the ones mentioned above. (That list of things to do before you die just might have to wait another nine months!)