Can you go tubing while pregnant

I am 34w5d and my family is hoping to go on a tubing trip down the river today (not a tube pulled by a boat or over rapids! think more 'lazy river tubing'), I want to go but am feeling super anxious about how 'safe' this might be for me at this point in my pregnancy?? I tried calling my doctor to ask about it but it is the weekend so they are only taking emergency calls.

The tubing will take a maximum of 4 hours to finish the trip, and includes some walking so I wouldn't be just sitting in a tube the entire day... however, I am guessing there is minimal shade, and it is supposed to be in the low 90s all day. I am definitely an overthinker/worrier so was already planning on packing a cooler full of drinks and snacks, a small sun umbrella for my tube, a hat and sunscreen, etc. What do you all think - safe or not risk it?

Avid athletes often need to put their favorite ways to get active on the back burner during pregnancy, but having a baby bump doesn't mean they have to lead a completely sedentary life. The slow, effective pace of exercises such as walking, swimming and yoga is more suitable for women who are pregnant. High-risk exercises, however, are best to avoid.

Contact Sports

The American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women avoid all contact sports. Even sports such as volleyball and basketball, which don't necessarily revolve around hits, often involve diving and colliding in an attempt to get the ball. Avoid these activities -- even in the first trimester, when you might not even feel pregnant at all.

Extreme Sports

Exercises to Avoid When Pregnant

Regardless of your athletic background, pregnancy isn't the time to engage in extreme sports. Bicycle tricks, skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross and any other type of activity with a high fall, crash or injury risk puts your baby's life in danger. Skip mountain climbing, bungee jumping and sky diving, as well. Gymnastics, horseback riding and surfing are also off the table.

Certain Water Sports

If you like to swim, you can boast that you're performing one of the safest, most beneficial pregnancy exercises, according to the APA. Still, not all activities that take place in the water have a positive effect on your pregnancy. Water skiing, tubing and para-sailing can cause you to hit the water hard, belly first. Diving also carries a high injury risk for your developing baby. Pregnant women also must refrain from scuba diving. "As you surface, air bubbles can form in your bloodstream, which can be very dangerous for both you and your growing baby," says gynecologist Joanna Stone in an article on BabyCenter.

Activities You Might Need to Avoid

Risks of Playing Volleyball When Pregnant

Stone recommends avoiding certain types of physical activity if you don't have pre-pregnancy experience with them. These activities include running, riding a bicycle and tennis. You also increase your risk of injury if you lift free weights incorrectly. Under the right conditions and with the right training and supervision, it's possible to perform these activities safely.

November 2013 Moms

Hubby and I are going tubing down a slow water river this weekend and i'm 27 weeks. We'll be in a double tube for about 2-3 hours. Has anyone else done this preggers? Any tips on staying comfortable? 

Re: River Tubing Anyone?

• I assume this is MUD...however if its not, just wrap yourself in several layers of bubble wrap and duck tape...that should protect you and LO.

• In case this isnt MUD...

  Sunscreen? I honestly don't see how sitting in a tube on the water could possibly be uncomfortable. Maybe splash water on yourself so you don't over heat? Ice cold water to drink?

• Definitely just had to google what MUD stands for. haha and no, there's no made up drama here. I was really just wondering if anyone had used a specific type of tube that was more comfortable than others. Thanks for the replies! But no bubble wrap here, that would seriously hinder my killer tan

  
  <----- (MUD) haha

• Perhaps your version of tubing is different than ours? Even in a slow moving river we are always attached to a boat, even if its a pontoon...are you talking about floating the river? If so that's not what I was thinking...I was thinking you were a moron that would be bouncing your LO around for 2-3 hours...different semantics for different folks!

• I used to live in Texas, and oh how I miss tubing.  I would assume load up on water and sunscreen.  Also, avoid shaving that day so you don't get any small cuts.  As far as being comfortable?  I don't see you staying comfortable for very long.  I know when I used to go, I would have my butt sit in the hole of the tube and rest my back and legs on the sides.  But, now I feel like my baby would be "pushed" up towards my rib cage making it harder to breath.  If it were me I wouldn't want to do the whole 2-3hr float trip. Can you do a lesser route, just in case you end up hating it?  

  Anyway have fun and enjoy tubing!

• Oh! haha no, I'm talking lazy river like tubing not being slung behind a boat. Goodness I would have thought i was a moron too! lol

• Yeah, being in that crunched up seated position for too long is what I'm most worried about. We probably will end up doing a shorter route. Thanks!

• I used to go when I loved in Florida, not pregnant though. But they do have really nice floats at Walmart that I would think would be comfortable now. They have mesh bottoms, and a back to them. They are kinda oversized.. They do make them in doubles too. I would love to float down the river.. Especially if it was a cold water. Fun!

  

• I read fresh water isn't that safe for pregnant women because you have millions of microscopic abrasions on your skin that microscopic organisms can get into and make you sick. Just something I read. However, they also state not to shave less than 24 hours before going to the beach as well. That's all I know about that.

  BLAD reppin'

  
  
  

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• I went lazy river tubing at 6 months my last pregnancy and was fine but I wouldn't do it again..just because I was constantly worried.

• I would say take a shorter route in case you become uncomfortable. We are going to the lake this weekend but it'll be pretty relaxed...sunning on the pontoon. I don't think I could handle any tubing right now. I'm pretty much a beached whale. With my luck, I'd get stuck!

• I went a couple weeks ago.  I found it really relaxing, just in the normal donut-shaped tube.  I did lay further back than normal, so my feet were in the river and my head resting on the tube (laying down).

  Just make sure to bring lots of sunscreen and reapply!  Pregnant skin is more easily burned than non-pregnant skin.

  Also, just making sure, I went through a company, and they required a doctor's note for anyone going tubing who was pregnant, even though it was flat water/lazy river tubing.  If I had not gotten my dr's note, I would not have been allowed on the river!  (my dr was totally fine with it, even gave me a funny look when I asked for a note, and I had to explain that they required it!)

• I think I'd lay on the tube with my belly in the hole, so I could take a big fat nap on my stomach again!  Otherwise, I'd have an option to get out at a shorter distance, in case you are uncomfortable, change positions frequently, lots of sunscreen & hydration.  Also, I wouldn't do it if you have any cuts/open sores anywhere.  Sounds so fun!

• I went a few weeks ago. At around 24 weeks. It was fine except when we got to shallow parts and I had to constantly get up. At that point, I had just started having a harder time bending over. When it was deep, I enjoyed laying on my stomach with my belly in the tube. I took the opportunity to get a tan back there and do some much needed back stretches!! I had fun but probably wouldn't do it again while pregnant. Unless I knew for sure the water level was up!

• I went on a 5 hour canoe trip at 23 weeks.  It had no problems, just stay hydrated.

  
    
  
  
  

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• I went river tubing about two weeks ago at 23 weeks. The most comfortable tube I found was at academy on the box it says river run they have a blue one and a pink one an only cost like $15 they have the mesh bottom so your not just hanging out the bottom and a backrest too. And to keep cool I had an empty water bottle that I would fill up in river an pour on me, helped out alot since it was so hot!

• We are going in a week (so excited!) and I'm a bit worried about the cramped position too. Used to flip myself out of my tube and swim alongside if I got uncomfortable, but I don't think I could get back into the tube now!

  
  
  
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