Beach trips are a welcome distraction, but your current situation may limit the range of activities you’re free to enjoy. Should you have to worry about ocean waves hitting your pregnant belly?
Generally, the waves shouldn’t pose a problem – even direct impacts are unlikely to harm your baby. That being said, you should avoid this activity during inclement weather, as the rough waters can endanger your and your baby’s wellbeing.
On rare occasions, direct impacts may cause injury or even pre-term labor – but it’s important to note that this happens only when other exacerbating factors are at play. Outside of these situations, it should be safe to let ocean waves hit your pregnant tummy.
Pregnancy can be an absolute rollercoaster ride – full of inconvenient twists and turns. It’s natural to have new doubts come up, even with things that seemed obvious back then. We’ve be providing you with crucial info that’ll hopefully set your mind at ease down below.
Is It Bad To Let Ocean Waves Hit My Pregnant Belly?
While babies do have a reputation for being fragile, they aren’t made of glass. A fetus in the womb is well-protected by a cushioning layer of amniotic fluid, which should be more than enough to handle light impacts. Ocean waves bumping into your pregnant tummy shouldn’t be an issue.
The bigger concern here would be when the waters get too rough, as the direct impact of strong waves could push against your uterus, causing it to contract and potentially induce pre-term labor. The chance of this happening is admittedly quite low and usually due to other extraneous factors (i.e. multiple births, high blood pressure, diabetes) contributing to the situation as well.
For the most part, though, direct impacts shouldn’t be troublesome on their own. You do have a chance of getting tripped up or having the wind knocked out of you by strong ocean waves, which could have dangerous ramifications for your pregnancy – be mindful of that possibility.
All in all, while you’re free to sit in the sand and let the ocean waves hit your pregnant belly, be ready to leave if the weather gets a bit too intense for your liking.
Weather and Temperature Concerns
Ocean waves splashing onto your stomach are the least of your concerns during a beach trip, as it’s usually pretty obvious when things take a turn for the dangerous. Direct sunlight, strong winds, and extreme temperatures are subtler problems and may catch some moms off-guard.
Sunlight and Heat
Sustained exposure to direct sunlight, especially without sunscreen or other forms of UV protection, can cause both long-term and short-term health issues.
In terms of immediate consequences, you’d have to be wary of getting sunburn and dehydration. For long-term concerns, you may end up suffering from premature aging or even skin cancer.
Even if the proper precautions are taken, you’d still have to deal with a ton of heat while your body is already overworked by pregnancy. It may lead to hyperthermia, which could escalate into a medical emergency if neglected. If you feel any dizziness, get some rest ASAP!
Wind
Strong winds can leech a lot of body heat from people, especially while exposed out on the beach. Sometimes it can also irritate a person’s respiratory system, so keep an eye out for that.
Strong winds end up compounding the issue of dehydration, leading to some awful pregnancy complications. Extreme cold (hypothermia) also constricts your blood vessels, reducing blood flow and depriving your infant of crucial oxygen and nutrients!
General Guidelines and Considerations
Here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind while going out in the ocean while pregnant. While the checklist is short, it should cover most of the factors you need to consider.
- Avoid going to the beach alone, especially late into your pregnancy.
- It’s better to cancel if the weather won’t cooperate instead of risking your health.
- Remember to stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty at the moment.
- Always use sunscreen while you’re out on the beach.
- Talk with your doctor before planning the trip out.
Final Thoughts
Ocean waves hitting your pregnant belly should be perfectly fine, but if you have other serious health concerns at play make it a point to conduct yourself a little more carefully. It doesn’t matter whether you feel fine enough to do it or not, always consult your doctor first!
