Can i go backpacking while pregnant

Backpacking is a healthy activity for staying in good physical condition during pregnancy. It increases the heartbeat and rate of blood circulation in the body, reducing any swelling. However, if you are pregnant, you should consult with your doctor before planning any backpacking hikes or excursions.

Even if you are in excellent health, your lung capacity is normally lower than usual during pregnancy. Of course, your weight increases, which requires your system to work harder as you hike. Throughout your pregnancy, you should always pack extra-light for a backpacking trip. Most pregnant women find it best to plan only short to moderate-length hiking and camping trips.

If you purchase top-quality sleeping bags, sleeping pads and backpacks that are all lightweight, this is smart planning. Particularly during your last trimester, using a backpack hip belt is often impossible. You should give heavy items like portable cooking devices to your partner or another hiker who is not pregnant. Many women experience queasiness and nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy.

For this reason, it is often difficult to know what foods to pack for a backpacking trip. However, the best plan is to choose lightweight food items like beans, olives, nuts and both fresh and dried fruits. Small containers of peanut or almond butter are also good choices. Packages of small bread slices, flatbreads or mini-muffins are good to include.

Chocolate is also a popular food to pack. Be prepared to experience greater difficulty when hiking than you did before carrying your unborn child. It is normal to become out of breath fairly easily during the early stages of your pregnancy. Even if you are physically fit and exercise regularly, you are likely to experience shortness of breath when hiking.

It is not uncommon to have breathing difficulty during your seventh week of pregnancy when hiking up an incline. Yet if you backpack on terrain with the same degree of steepness during week 24, expect a pleasant surprise.

At this stage, breathing normally is common. One pleasant aspect of camping during your first trimester is that you will probably sleep quite soundly and comfortably. Just be sure to pack an ultra-soft sleeping pad. During months 4 through 6 of your pregnancy, both hiking and sleeping should be relatively easy. However, be sure to pack light. Using your backpack hip belt strap is most likely not possible during your second trimester.

Even if the strap still fits, it can crowd the growing baby and uterus. It is best to include lightweight items only in your pack, such as clothes, small water bottles and snacks.

It is good to take advantage of being able to enjoy hiking and camping during this trimester. Since you are comfortable exercising and sleeping, backpacking trips are healthy activities. You benefit from breathing fresh air as you hike, eat and sleep in the great outdoors. At the same time, you get away from your busy home lifestyle.

Hiking and camping trips allow time for planning ahead for the future fun of backpacking with your small child. Helping your little one understand and appreciate the wonders of nature is a rewarding experience to look forward to. Can you go backpacking while pregnant, even during the last trimester? If you go backpacking during your third trimester, it is helpful to borrow some hiking clothes from larger female backpackers.

Girlfriends are always happy to lend their hiking clothing, gear and support. They know that this will help you avoid spending for larger-size hiking items during pregnancy than you normally wear. Also, hiking clothes are difficult to find in your current size.

Take it easy out there, mama! Good for you; that will be one tough kid! How far along are you? The comments and questions I received while exploring the mountains ran the gamut from well-meaning support to extreme concern as to whether I was endangering my not-yet-born child. I finally learned to brush off external comments and trust myself.

My doc had given me the green light for hiking and I personally felt great, so I banished the naysayers from my mind. Because here is the thing: hiking while pregnant is a safe activity, assuming your doctor approves. It is a low-impact form of exercise that is great for both cardio and muscular strength.

Even more? It worked wonders for my mental state, which was critical as I worked my way through the nine-month pregnancy.

But just like everything else during pregnancy, there are special considerations involved when hitting the trail with that baby bump. Check out these tips to ensure you have the safest hike possible for you and your bundle of joy. Before you do anything, it is a good idea to have a conversation with your OB.

If you were active before pregnancy, he or she will likely have no problem with you hiking during pregnancy. However, there are some complications that may be specific to you, so clear everything with him before heading into the mountains. Here in Colorado, I normally spend a lot of time scaling large mountains and technical terrain. However, I opted to scale back the difficulty while I was hiking for two.

As I progressed through my pregnancy, my belly grew larger as I added more than 50 pounds to my pre-pregnancy body. This added weight on my front side really threw off my center of gravity, making it easier for me to pitch forward. The big peaks will still be there for you next season!

This may not affect everyone, but it is a good idea to consider the altitude before embarking on a hike. In Colorado, the majority of our typical hikes take place above tree line, or above 12, feet where the views are the best.

However, my doc requested that I stay below 12k for the duration of my pregnancy. There is less oxygen available to you at higher elevations, which means there is also less available to your baby. Some studies have shown that less oxygen can negatively impact a baby, causing lower birth weights among other concerns. But here is the catch: high altitude is a relative concept, depending on where you live. Since I regularly hike 14ers peaks above 14, feet , staying below 12k was a reasonable compromise.

However, if you permanently reside at sea level, altitudes of 6,, feet are going to leave you breathless. Talk with your doc before hiking at a higher-to-you altitude and figure out a game plan. Between the hot sun, the physical exertion, and the constant sweating, it is very easy for a mama-to-be to become quickly dehydrated. Consider this before heading out, and be sure to account for your newfound thirst.

For me, this rule was most applicable during my first trimester. This is especially true if cell reception seems bad. What starts as a slight stumble can turn into a tragic and avoidable emergency. Searching online forums for information on a trail, or simply asking some hiking friends to do a test hike, is the best way to avoid surprises.

Try as we might to plan and prevent anything from going wrong, we should always listen to what our bodies are telling us… even when everything should be going right. If at any point in your hike, you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, lightheadedness, excessive vomiting, fainting, or any other concerning events, STOP.

It is always better to be cautious. Cut your hike short, and call your doctor right away. Thankfully, the stigma that pregnant women are highly fragile and breakable is phasing its way out. More and more, pregnant women are enjoying themselves by staying active and staying healthy. Hiking can definitely be a great activity of choice for future mothers. Getting close to your baby in the first trimester will get you in the perfect mindset for hiking with your little one when they join you in person.

Before you know it, you can hit the trails with a baby strapped to your back! Skip to content. We're an Affiliate We hope you love the products we recommend. Just so you know, we may earn a commission off the purchase of items we mention in this post, and products we link to.

Thank you if you use our links! Before Hiking Go to The Doctor! During Your First Doctor Appointment. There are two main reasons why: You need someone there if anything goes wrong: Pregnancy can have unpredictable effects on your body.

Inner balance, blood pressure, and blood sugar can all fluctuate wildly during pregnancy. Should you lose your balance, lose consciousness, or encounter any other emergency, someone needs to be there to assist you and call for help. Essentially, you want to be able to maintain a conversation during physical activity. This can be especially helpful for those who have been ordered to any degree of bed rest.

Having a hiking buddy allows you to chat back and forth to monitor your breathing levels. Pack Your Hiking Bag Check Your Pack List Twice. Pregnant Packlist Essentials.

Water: Lots of it. Staying hydrated is one of the most important parts of hiking while pregnant, especially if you are going out in extremely sunny or hot conditions. Your cell phone…With a full battery: Even though you should have a hiking buddy with you.