If you are pregnant and interested in riding a quad, here are a few key points you need to keep in mind in order to remain safe while participating in off-roading activities like this one.
Pregnancy requires you to avoid certain types of off-road vehicles, particularly ATVs. Due to not having doors or roll cages, ATVs can be extremely risky to drive.
Safety Concerns
As soon as a woman becomes pregnant, her body undergoes drastic transformations – changes to bones, muscles, emotions, hormones and more.
These changes make her more vulnerable to injury and put both herself and her unborn baby at greater risk; this is particularly evident during the first trimester when miscarriage and premature labor are most prevalent.
But there are precautions you can take while riding a quad while pregnant that will reduce risks and protect both yourself and your unborn baby. These include wearing protective gear, avoiding risky terrain, limiting riding time, taking frequent breaks and listening to what feels right for your body.
Before making a decision about riding ATV during pregnancy, it’s essential that you consult with a healthcare provider first. Your OB GYN will offer personalized advice & guidance based on your health & pregnancy circumstances; make sure they stay updated about any riding habits or changes to either of those as soon as they arise.
Bumpy Rides
Women expecting should avoid riding motorcycles while pregnant due to vibrations and bumpiness associated with riding that could cause physical discomfort and fetal distress, as well as increase miscarriage risk factors and premature birth risk factors.
Off-roading can also pose risks to pregnant women, as it exposes them to all the same hazardous terrain that would normally be avoided when driving a car.
Off-roading increases your risk of injury, particularly on trails that are known to be bumpy and steep. Bumpy terrain may put pressure on abdominal organs which could result in abdominal trauma.
Though bumpy rides cannot be avoided entirely, you should still maintain a safe speed and take it slow when off-roading. Avoid being thrown over or off your bike as that could put both yourself and your baby at risk of serious injuries.
Vibrations
Riding a motorcycle during pregnancy places great strain on a woman’s body and could harm both herself and her developing baby. This is due to exposure of her uterus to stressors like shocks from riding, vibrations from vehicles as well as any shocks from the ride itself.
While some women have managed to ride motorcycles while pregnant, it should generally be avoided as it poses serious risks both to mother and her unborn baby.
Quads’ vibrations may damage both uterus and placenta, potentially leading to miscarriage or preterm labor in some instances. Furthermore, vibrations could cause pain and discomfort during gestation that compromise her health further.
As gestation progresses, vibration risks increase significantly and should be minimized as much as possible by pregnant mothers. If an experienced rider wishes to continue riding while expecting, then she should carefully consider any risks before continuing her ride.
Speed
Women planning on becoming pregnant are usually advised against engaging in any activities that could put their unborn child in harm’s way, including running, horseback riding and 4-wheel driving as well as exercising. This advice includes running, horseback riding and 4-wheel driving as well as exercises.
There appear to be two schools of thought when it comes to engaging in rigorous outdoor activities like 4-wheel driving during pregnancy: one is that pregnancy should not be treated like a disease and thus all physical sports should be avoided, while the other believes that once entering your third trimester you should be free to resume playing your favorite sports since the high-risk phase has passed.
At even low speeds, off-roading can have detrimental effects on both you and your baby’s development, potentially even leading to preterm labor and an early delivery.
Speeding over speed bumps and steep trails during pregnancy can be particularly hazardous, as their impacts could have fatal repercussions for both you and your fetus. Make sure that you follow all traffic rules when driving and adhere to all speed limits when riding your car.
Chris is a passionate learner and writer. When he’s not working on his blog or learning something new, he’s a full-time systems administrator and father of two beautiful girls. Chris loves spending time with his family, reading, writing, and playing hockey.