Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant? Latest ACOG Research Findings of 2024
Can you play pickleball while pregnant? It’s the most asking question. Pickleball is a moderate-intensity activity that is safe and secure during pregnancy. Pickleball when pregnant, qualified doctors suggest aerobic workouts/exercises for women. Often, I asked Pickleball women players, can you play pickleball while pregnant? So many women are unaware that they can play pickleball while pregnant. All pickleball family sports such as badminton, tennis, and squash, have their specific intensity level.
Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant-Recommendations 2024
*According to ACOG, Pickleball for pregnant women is safe, improves balance, and coordination, enhances stamina, and reduces stress.
Benefits:- Reduced back pain, decreased risk of gestational diabetes, , controlled weight gain, improved fitness, faster post-pregnancy recovery, and enhanced mental well-being.
Activities to Avoid:-Jerky or bouncing movements, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding to prevent falls, contacting sports (football, hockey)
Risks:- Excessive exertion, listen to your body to ensure safe, fast movements
Pickleball is considered safe and easy for pregnant women according to the ACOG. Benefits include improved balance, coordination, increased stamina, reduced stress, and bonding with your baby.
A tennis match has intermittent high-intensity point exchanges lasting 4 to 10 seconds, followed by short recovery bouts of 10 to 20 seconds. Players have the option of 25 seconds between points and 90 seconds on a game changeover.
Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant-Activities to Avoid
To keep both the mother and child safe during pregnancy, it’s important to avoid specific activities. Steer clear of jerky or bouncing movements found in sports like horseback riding, skiing, or snowboarding to prevent falls. Additionally, it’s best to avoid contact sports such as football or hockey due to the risk of injury.
Activities that generate excessive heat, like hot yoga or saunas, should be avoided as they can pose risks to the baby.
A tennis match has intermittent high-intensity point exchanges lasting 4 to 10 seconds, followed by short recovery bouts of 10 to 20 seconds. Players have the option 25 seconds between points 90 seconds on a game changeover.
Squash is considered a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout. On average, players burn around 750 calories per hour during a game.
Regular badminton sessions are classified as a moderate-intensity activity, contributing to the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. The rapid movements, jumps, smashes, and lunges involved in badminton help build muscle and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Pickleball is a moderately intense sport. It involves quick movements, strategic shot placements, and rapid exchanges at the net.
Safe and Less Risky Sports During Pregnancy
Enjoy a variety of safe exercises during pregnancy to maintain your fitness and promote a healthy journey. Engage in brisk walking, swimming, water aerobics, spinning, yoga, pilates, strength training, jogging, or running to reap the benefits. These activities can help you stay in shape, reduce the risk of complications, and support a healthy pregnancy.
Remember, always listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or faint, it’s crucial to stop exercising and take a break. Prioritize your well-being throughout your fitness routine.
Guidelines for the Duration of Sports During Pregnancy?
Being physically active during pregnancy improves fitness, helps cope with pregnancy demands, reduces gestational diabetes risk, and enhances mental well-being.
Play Pickleball When Pregnant?
Pickleball, being similar to tennis, can be played by pregnant women, following the guidelines and recommendations provided for tennis. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) assure that engaging in physical activity, including tennis, is safe during pregnancy.
This guidance can be applied to pickleball as well, allowing pregnant women to enjoy the sport while following appropriate precautions. It is recommended to consult with a gynecologist or obstetrician and have regular check-ins as the pregnancy progresses when playing pickleball or any other sport.
Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant-Benefits
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises pregnant women to engage in regular exercise, including a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Pickleball, a low-impact and non-contact sport similar to tennis, falls within this recommendation.
It is considered safer than tennis due to the slower ball movement, reducing the risk of accidental impact. Benefits of exercise during pregnancy include reduced back pain, decreased risk of gestational diabetes, controlled weight gain, improved fitness, faster post-pregnancy recovery, and enhanced mental well-being.
Embrace the joys of pickleball and stay physically and mentally resilient throughout your pregnancy.
Playing While Pregnant-Pros
An inspiring example of a professional athlete who continued to excel in racquet sports while pregnant is Serena Williams, a renowned tennis player. Serena Williams, despite being pregnant, achieved remarkable milestones by triumphing in Grand Slam tournaments like the US Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open.
Her exceptional achievements exemplify determination and success even during pregnancy. One of her most extraordinary feats was capturing her 23rd singles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2017 while 20 weeks pregnant. Serena’s remarkable journey serves as an inspiration for those eager to continue playing racquet sports, like pickleball, during pregnancy.
Pickleball and Pregnancy: When is it Time to Hang Up the Paddle?
The ability to exercise safely and comfortably during pregnancy varies among women. While some of them can be able to continue to take exercise until birth, other women may require to stop during the 3rd trimester. It is crucial to regularly consult with your healthcare provider to determine when to discontinue playing pickleball or any other exercise.
If you experience any concerning symptoms while playing pickleball, it is important to stop exercising immediately and consult with an obstetrician/gynecologist. Such symptoms include bleeding from the vagina, dizziness or faintness, shortness of breath before exercise, chest pain, headaches, muscle weakness, and calf pain or swelling.
Your healthcare provider will provide appropriate guidance based on your individual circumstances and ensure the safety of both you and your baby.
Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant-Risks
While pickleball is a generally low-risk physical activity for pregnant women, there are a few risks to be mindful of. These include the possibility of being struck on the belly, the risk of falls due to changes in the center of gravity, and the potential for overheating.
It’s important to play within your limits, avoid excessive exertion, and listen to your body to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Consulting with your healthcare provider is always recommended for personalized guidance.
Conclusion–Can You Play Pickleball While Pregnant
I hope women pickleball players who are pregnant aware of how can you play pickleball while pregnant. When engaging in pickleball while pregnant, it is crucial to prioritize listening to your body. If you experience symptoms like sleepiness, nausea, or any other pregnancy-related discomfort, it’s advisable to rest. The permissibility of playing pickleball while pregnant can vary depending on individual circumstances. Consulting with your doctor and being attuned to your body’s signals will help determine if it is suitable for you to play pickleball or any other sport while pregnant.
