Bodysurfing for two.
There are a lot of things challenging your body during pregnancy and unfortunately, many of them are nearly unbearable. The best way to beat the pregnancy bloat and blues is to stay active at least 30 minutes every day. I would know.
I am currently 9 months pregnant and have stuck to a routine of exercising five days a week. That includes running (up to week 26), walking, elliptical, weight training, Zumba and my favorite of all, handboarding/bodysurfing.
Since your body is fully submerged in the water when you are bodysurfing, you don’t feel that extra weight you’ve been carrying around. You also don’t feel the same bloat in your feet, hands and face, or the cramps in your back. The second I am in the ocean and diving under a wave, I nearly forget I am carrying a baby inside of me. I may have to wear my husband’s wetsuit, since mine doesn’t fit anymore (temporarily), but the stress release on your body given by the salt water is worth looking like a beached whale while you strut into the ocean for a handboard session.
I only suggest handboarding while pregnant if you are already comfortable in the ocean though and have experience handboarding/bodysurfing before your pregnancy. And of course, you should always consult with your doctor before any physical activity.
So here are a few things that what got me through 9 months of handboarding while pregnant:
Know your limits and listen to your body.
As your body and baby grow, you’ll notice you’re out of breath all the time and you get tired much faster. Pre-pregnancy, I was comfortable out in 4-5 foot waves and could stay out for hours, but immediately after getting pregnant I only wanted to be out in 1-3 foot waves. I’d get exhausted quickly, swimming out to the break when the waves were big and I never went out in waves that were too big for my comfort zone. Everyone is different, so just listen to your own body and don’t do anything you are not comfortable with.
Stay away from the shorebreak.
The shorebreak has never been my favorite place to venture with a handboard to begin with. When bodysurfing in the shorebreak, you can easily have your body thrown right into the sand, which is obviously high risk. Look for breaks that are in deeper water with a nice, long, rolling break. And of course for safety purposes, make sure you are wearing fins.
Always go out with a buddy.
You should be cautious while doing any physical activity while pregnant, especially when you bring in the unknown elements of the ocean into the mix. Once I hit my second trimester, I made sure to always have a buddy with me in the ocean and as extra precaution, I would only go out right in front of the lifeguard tower.
Salt water cures all.
The third trimester can be miserable and the ocean is the best place to be. By the end of the day, you are overcome with bloat, back cramps, exhaustion and more. The best cure for me became that cold ocean. I immediately feel better and my bloating goes away. I may not be able to fit into my skinny jeans after, but my swollen feet can fit into my shoes again.
Editor’s Note: Learn more from the handboarding mom and Slyde Handboards here.
