Making Water Babies

The last few weeks, as my belly has gotten bigger, I’ve received comments by people suggesting I’m going to need to stop getting in the water. Sure, I can’t ride my potato chip short board any more. As a matter of fact, when I look at it now I see it from the eyes of many of the larger-sized local boys who would sink it. My 5′10″ is small, and sheesh really narrow, and sooo thin! So, besides occasionally borrowing, I’ve been riding a bodyboard until I can acquire a little bit larger stick to keep me afloat. And though it’s more comfortable in some respects (the leg/hip workout being quite gratifying for someone experiencing growing pangs), laying on on my belly is harsh (you adapt to keep pressure on the ribs instead but still). I’m hoping a bodyboard company will extend itself to inventing a bodyboard design for pregnant women, which, of course, I will gladly test out. Just carve out a spot where my now big-ass pooch can hang comfortably (not too much to ask for?).

Back to the comments…. They gave me serious concern, even though I personally know and have seen pictures of many women surfing pregnant (some all the way to term); mostly longboarding or on funboards. And though my instincts seem to adequately keep me in line, this is my first pregnancy so I decided to check in with the experts on my last prenatal visit, to make certain I’m not potentially harming the lil’ kiddle. And what I was told, “If you are able to, you can surf until the very end. The baby is really very protected at this point.” Now, I didn’t tell her I prefer surfing a bit bigger waves (though summer is often small), I’m limiting myself to head-high or less now.

Frankly, my main worry isn’t what I might do surfing, but what others might do to me. Though I’ve hurt myself taking chances -a concussion here and reef slashing there- the worst injuries (including a back broken in three places) have all occurred by other guys in the water. You know, where they think they’re going to make a drop, where they think they’re able to bust a move, where they eat it while magnetically heading straight for you. With just myself in the water, I feel safe, but besides being more cautious in general, surely I will have to keep a better eye on the guys. As a matter of fact, it seems my motherly instincts are already kicking in. For example, there’s this one goof at a local break here, who likes taking off in front of people in precarious spots, then cutting back into you, and making turns straight for you while you are paddling back out. There’s probably one like him at every spot: less soul more soulless. The guy who surfs to show off but in the end he’s just annoying everyone around him. Well, needless to say, during one recent incident inches from my face, I shoved him off his board, grabbed his clownish fro, yanked on it and -though I’d told him before- demanded he stay away from me. He started bawling. Whoa, that instinct is intense!

I also recently learned the chance for miscarriage is more serious in the first trimester and that, in actuality, that’s the time you need to be most careful. Thing is, for the large percentage of pregnant (slightly obsessive) surfer girls, all you are thinking is ‘I’m going to surf as much as I can while I can still lay flat on this thing!’ So, if you naïvely (as I did) made it past that stage, and can avoid collisions with water donkeys, play it safe and you’ll likely be fine surfing (bodyboarding, body surfing, swimming) even into your third trimester*. Now, popping an extra 25 pounds up may be a little more difficult (I’ve already gained that and am only half way there) – but it’s a great way to stay strong, keep in shape, and be physically prepared to pop that lil’ grom out when the time comes.

*This is not medical advice. Always check in with your doctor to see what is right for you.

(Originally written for The Surfing Village. For more info on moms surfing, check out the Surfing Mums web site.)

***7/22 update: seems the belly size increased overnight. Two dayz ago when I tried to bodyboard had to immediately lock it into wave at an angle and lay more on my side. Though I am obsessed with the wonderful fin workout (luv my Kicks), will certainly need that bodyboard with the belly cut out or just bodysurf. At the same time though, my arm muscles are such that I can finally push my new body up while surfing, so…ultimately I’d rather be surfing (just need to be able to update boards -and surf clothes- as the we grow. …will keep ya posted.***