Pregnancy can be a stressful stage to navigate in life. It can be challenging to keep yourself and your baby safe during your pregnancy when it feels like many activities are off-limits. Some pregnant women, and their loved ones, might be wondering if they’ll have to give up jet skiing until their baby is born.
You can jet ski while pregnant, but it might not be entirely safe. Though it’s okay for pregnant women to jet ski, most experts advise against it as high speed is a common reason riders fall, which can be unsafe when you’re pregnant.
The rest of this article will explain why you should be cautious of jet skiing while pregnant, some boating safety tips, and extra safety tips for riding a jet ski.
Why You Probably Shouldn’t Jet Ski While Pregnant
Jet skiing while pregnant isn’t inherently unsafe. However, pregnant women need to know the safety issue involved if you fall.
If you’re planning to jet ski while pregnant, it’s crucial to understand that the impact of your fall could cause serious injuries. Falling off your jet ski and hitting the water at high speed feels the same as hitting concrete. When you hit the water with a significant impact, it’ll not only hurt you, but it’ll hurt your baby as well.
This harsh impact is especially likely to happen if you fall from your jet ski while driving it at a fast rate.
The effect of the water will likely injure your baby, and it’ll make it hard for you to get back on your jet ski as you’ll have to strain to get on. However, there are ways to keep yourself generally safe as you ride your jet ski while pregnant.
Riding a Jet Ski Safely While Pregnant
If you’re determined to ride a jet ski while pregnant, no one is going to stop you. However, if you are not in the mood to get hurt or hurt your baby, then you’ll need to follow these safety tips:
- Wear a life jacket, as it can keep you afloat if you fall off the jet ski. Life jackets are also helpful in case the impact of the water knocks you out unconscious. On that note, having someone with you is also an essential step to keeping yourself safe while jet skiing.
- Ride the jet ski slowly. The biggest reason why people fall off jet skis is that they’re driving the ski too fast. Riding a ski at such a high velocity can cause you to get off-balance, which is your fall. Riding the jet ski slowly and without bumps can help the ride be smoother and lowers your chances of falling off the jet ski.
- Avoid stand-up jet skis. Riding a stand-up jet ski can become very dangerous for you and your baby. Not only are you more likely to fall, but you’re also risking the possibility of hitting your baby with the handle pole after riding through a wave.
Safety Tips for Riding a Jet Ski
Practicing proper safety procedures will keep you safe and allow you to keep your Personal Watercraft Devices (PWC) license or certification if your state requires you to get one or you have already obtained one.
The following sections will go over some safety tips for you when you are riding a jet ski.
Know Your State’s Regulations
One of the most critical steps to riding a jet ski is knowing what your state requires of you as a responsible jet ski rider. Some states require that you become certified or obtain a license before freely riding your jet ski.
Be sure to read your state’s laws and regulations regarding PWC and what you must do to ride legally and responsibly. The best way to do this is to call your state’s department or check your state government’s website to read up on their laws.
Take a Boating Course
In addition to figuring out your state’s laws and regulations, it’s also a good idea to learn how to operate a jet ski properly. In some cases, the state might already require you to take a course. You can do this by searching boating courses near you or asking other people who ride jet skis what local courses they recommend taking.
It’s also a good idea to invite a friend or someone who consistently accompanies you to the beach or lake to take the class with you so that they’ll learn proper safety precautions and what to do if something happens while you’re skiing.
Never Forget Your Life Jacket
Another critical factor in keeping yourself safe while jet skiing is wearing a life jacket. Sometimes it’s tempting to ride a jet ski without your jacket, but you should always prioritize safety.
Wearing a life jacket will keep you afloat if you fall off your jet ski and keep you from drowning in deeper water. It’s vital to note that if you feel yourself slipping from or falling off your jet ski, you’ll have to let yourself fall and allow your life jacket to do the work of keeping you afloat.
Another crucial thing to know about life jackets is that they’re not one size fits all.
Be sure to find a life jacket that best suits you, and be sure that you can buckle everything together. Be sure that you know exactly how to wear a life jacket, which can be a topic covered in your boating course.
Do Not Jet Ski While Drunk
Not only is being drunk while jet skiing illegal, but it’s also a massive safety hazard.
Getting drunk affects your ability to soundly reason and affects your mood drastically. If you know that drinking makes you angry and aggressive, you shouldn’t drink while jet skiing.
In addition to drunk jet skiing being a hazard, you’ll most likely get fined and even arrested by law enforcement if they catch you jet-skiing in a drunken state. But then that begs the question, “Why are you drinking while you’re pregnant?”
Always Bring Someone With You To Sit On the Shore
In this case, the person doesn’t need to ride the jet ski with you, but you must have someone on shore who can watch you and ensure your safety while you go skiing.
This person should be someone you trust to pay attention to you while you jet ski and can quickly grab a life guard’s attention if you’re in danger or an accident happens.
If you have a child, teach them what to do if they see that you’re in potential danger. Let the child know that they shouldn’t attempt to try and rescue you themselves and that they should immediately inform a lifeguard of what happened.
Do Not Jet Ski In Unsafe Weather Conditions
This tip is one of the most essential safety advice.
If you notice that the weather is terrible and that there seems to be a storm coming or reports of heavy rain, lightning, or fog, refrain entirely from skiing that day. You’ll want to wait until the weather clears, or you might have to schedule your ride for another day.
Inclement weather can cause all sorts of accidents and injuries. In severe cases, climates like lightning can cause death.
Know Proper Boating Etiquette
When deciding to ride a jet ski, it’s essential to know what the different light colors mean on boats, when to let other ships pass you, and how to handle encounters with other jet skiers. Try taking a class or getting a certification for operating a jet ski, as these can help you discern what to do in specific scenarios.
In some states, you need to get certified to work a jet ski in the first place.
Get a Towing Membership
Without a membership, towing can be pretty expensive. However, with a jet ski, it might be worth it to get a towing membership.
If your jet ski runs out of fuel or ceases to move, you’ll want to have a towing membership on hand. Towing memberships will not only save you money, but they’ll also be beneficial during times where your jet ski gets stuck.
Avoid Skiing At Night
If you especially dedicate a lot of time to riding your jet ski, you might spend long hours on the beach or lake. However, on the off-chance that you accidentally find yourself riding your jet ski at night, you’re going to want to know what to do to avoid injury and getting fined.
If you’re skiing past sunset, try to make it to land quickly. Get off the jet ski, call a towing company if you aren’t near your vehicle or your ski is low on fuel, and make your journey home.
Doing this will ensure that you are safe and away from any boaters or other watercraft users on the water that day.
For your benefit, it’s vital to stay safe and avoid injuries as much as possible.
General Boating Tips for Pregnant Women and Their Family
Besides jet-skiing, pregnant women might want to consider other boating activities instead. The following are some tips for boating while pregnant.
The Second Trimester Is the Sweet Spot
First-trimester pregnancy is the riskiest time to be on a jet ski as you’ll be more at risk of suffering a miscarriage and are likely more prone to morning sickness. In the third trimester, you’re more likely to fall due to being off-balance.
However, the second trimester is known as the best time to do activities as you might be past most of the morning sickness, but your body isn’t significantly big yet.
Sit Down for the Majority of the Time
You don’t want to fall and be off-balance.
Because you’re pregnant, you’re more likely to be off-balance, and you’ll want to keep yourself and your baby safe by taking a seat. If you do have to get up and walk around, be sure to hold onto something to keep you balanced and secure as you stand or walk around.
Avoid Boating on a Stormy Day or When the Water Is Not Calm
Raging waves or unsteady water will be no fun when you are pregnant. Not only does it trigger nausea, but it can also cause you to be more off-balance and likely to fall and injure your baby. If you plan to go boating but notice that the waters are not steady, reschedule the boating trip for another day.
Make Sure You Are Near the Land
Pregnancy can sometimes bring about unexpected events such as morning sickness or even medical emergencies. You must have quick access to the shore as anything could happen, and you have to keep yourself safe. As a safety precaution, try staying home, or on land, around 36 weeks.
However, if your doctor has told you before this milestone that you should stay off the water or not be so active, you’ll need to follow that advice instead. No amount of water fun is worth risking your life or that of your unborn child.
Wear Sunscreen
If you get sunburned while pregnant, it’ll not be fun at all. Exposure to the sun is also very harmful to your skin and can cause skin cancer, affecting your baby. Sunscreen is vital for protecting your skin and your baby as well.
However, a little bit of sun is healthy, as you get vitamin D from the sun. And, as most moms-to-be are told, this vitamin is crucial to your baby’s growth and development, as well as to your own health. Just don’t overdo it.
Always Bring Snacks and Drinks
Snacks can significantly help with morning sickness and keep you fed and healthy while relaxing on a boat or at the beach. You’ll also want to keep yourself hydrated with drinks, as pregnancy can cause you to get or feel dehydrated quicker.
Drink as many non-alcoholic beverages as you need.
Conclusion
Riding a jet ski comes with its risks and responsibilities. What’s important is that you take the proper precautions and procedures to keep yourself safe, especially during pregnancy.
Using a jet ski while pregnant isn’t something that most doctors or medical professionals would recommend, but there are ways to keep yourself safe while doing so. It’s crucial to always wear a life jacket, keep your balance on the jet ski, and go very slow.
Even if you don’t ride your jet ski while pregnant, you now know all the ways to keep yourself safe and avoid injury.