Roller coasters are elevated railways featuring steep inclines and descents for thrilling rides, found in most amusement parks. While riding these rides may seem fun and thrilling, expecting mothers should avoid them as riding them may cause severe complications such as miscarriage and placental abruption.
1. High Blood Pressure
There is no scientific proof to prove roller coasters pose any harm to pregnant mothers, yet their safety hasn’t been proven either. Therefore, amusement parks often post signs cautioning pregnant women about certain rides at amusement parks.
Roller coaster rides place pressure on an expecting mother’s abdomen, leading to high blood pressure during her gestation period and increasing risks to both mother and baby. Therefore, it is wise to refrain from such rides while pregnant to protect both mother and child from injury.
While riding roller coasters while pregnant can be risky, another major concern lies in placental abruption – a potentially lethal condition in which oxygen and nutrients become unavailable to your unborn fetus according to Verywell Family.
Though every pregnancy varies, in general it’s wise to stay clear of roller coasters until your baby arrives. But that doesn’t mean that theme parks don’t offer plenty of other fun experiences and delicious cotton candy!
2. Miscarriage
No scientific evidence supports riding roller coasters during pregnancy can cause miscarriage; however, what to Expect warns that its use should be avoided due to potential placental abruption complications that could cause bleeding and severe backaches.
The early trimester of pregnancy is one of its most precarious moments and exposure to sudden movements such as roller coasters can result in internal hemorrhaging that leads to internal hemorrhaging and miscarriage.
Consider that your uterus contains delicate blood vessels that could rupture from being exposed to roller coaster movement, so do not put yourself or your baby at risk just for thrills on a roller coaster ride. There are other amusement park activities which provide more excitement while being less risky to you and baby.
3. Placental Abruption
Roller coasters’ sudden movements can result in placental interruption, which poses serious dangers to both mother and fetus, including oxygen deprivation. Furthermore, hemorrhaging may occur and emergency hysterectomies could even become necessary according to Obstetrics & Gynecology.
As pregnancy advances, oxygen requirements increase dramatically until delivery day and it could even cause miscarriage.
Though some women have successfully rode roller coasters during their first trimesters of pregnancy without experiencing any complications, it is wise to be extra cautious. That is why amusement parks usually post signs prohibiting certain rides from pregnant women from riding them; not for their bottom line but so that complications don’t arise from riding too early in gestation.
4. Heart Attack
Roller coaster riding during pregnancy can be very hazardous for some women and could even result in a heart attack, as its thrill rides accelerate the heartbeat and may trigger arrhythmias for those with existing heart conditions, while adrenaline surges may trigger abnormal heart rhythms in people suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – an incurable condition which causes thickened cardiac walls and increases risk of cardiac arrest.
Roller coaster rides can be particularly hazardous to pregnant women with PCOS as the jerky movements can pull the placenta away from its place in the uterus and deprive it of oxygen and nutrients needed by your unborn baby, leading to miscarriage and even birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women should always consult a physician prior to riding roller coasters during gestation – every pregnancy can vary, and listening carefully to advice provided by medical professionals should always come first.
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.