Now 10 months since I gave birth, I can say my surfing is at the level it was before pregancy. I can go down the line and attempt the odd turn again!
I've been fortunate to go surfing 2 to 3 times a week for about an hour each time, and I've done the odd 10 minute workout involving squats, chinups and pushups whilst baby naps.
When Autumn came and days became shorter, I could no longer count on my husband to surf after work. He found it stressful to make time so we could both surf, so I had to find another way.
We met a couple of women that we trusted to look after our son whilst I surfed. One through a baby group, and the other through my husband's work partner, I'd pay them £15 for an hour and a half, so I could get to the beach, surf for an hour, come back and get out of my wetsuit. I'd get into my wetsuit before our babysitter arrived and get out of it very quickly at my front door, so I could be there for our son when I walked through the door. I'd run down to the beach so I had more time in the water. Running back I found a lot harder as I was tired so I usually walked!
Surprisingly, I felt my body had recovered quickly. I wondered if breastfeeding was making me more tired, and effecting my athletic ability. However, I read that Paralympic athlete, Sarah Storey found that breastfeeding provided a psychological boost to her career. Since then, I've had it in my mind that my body is just as strong and capable as it was before, if not more so..
My main battle to improving my surfing was the same as it has always been, believing in myself and overcoming the doubts in my mind.
However, paying for a babysitter is still pricey and sometimes we'd ask for their help so my husband and I could surf together. To save money, there had to be another way. I live in a surfing town, so there must be other mums that feel the same way. How to find them?
I went to baby groups and baby yoga classes, and asked other mums what they did for fitness and if they were surfers. Soon enough, I found a handful of women that were interested in baby swaps to go surfing. I then created a WhatsApp group. Over the warmer months, one mum could carry a baby in the carrier and one in the buggy, and go along the beach or about town. I got a second-hand three-wheeler, sand-friendly double buggy (Phil and Teds Explorer) from Facebook Market place just for our swaps! On the beach they could always call you if they needed you. A couple of partners kindly took both babies so two of us mums could surf together. It still took time to build trust when leaving your baby with another mum. Over the colder months, we did the swaps at home so one mum would look after both babies whilst the other surfed, then we'd swap. This worked out most of the time quite smoothly, although on a couple of occasions, both babies would get upset at the same time and it became tricky! A taster to having twins!!!
The most beautiful thing about the swaps was how we could support each other so we could both do the thing we loved. It is so empowering and our babies are having fun making friends too!
Monday, 30 March 2020
Monday, 20 May 2019
My Birth and Returning to surfing
My last pregnant surf was when I was 39 weeks and 1 day. One day before I gave birth to our healthy son! I took my little yellow foamie out into slightly mushy 2ft waves at South Fistral beach and had a fun splash around.
When I got out of my car, still in my wetsuit, I felt a slight trickle of fluid down there. I thought it was salt water and carried on with my day. Then that day, I felt a few fluid trickles and wondered if my waters had gone. At 9pm we called the midwives and they asked me to come in for an assessment. They did an examination and asked me to wear a pad to test the fluid. They concluded it wasn't amniotic fluid and was just something that can happen later in pregnancy called 'cervical weeping' where lots of fluid comes from the neck of the womb and it can feel like your waters have gone. My mucus plug or 'show' also came out, but this wasn't a sign of labour either, so they sent me home.
Then at 2am in the morning, I felt a definite 'pop' in my belly and a gush of water. I felt my waters had definitely gone. Then I started getting waves of pain in my lower back. I didn't want to wake Matt as it didn't seem like labour had started and it was important we got sleep. I didn't really sleep much and thought to call the midwives in the morning. The midwife we saw confirmed my waters had gone but this back sensation was early labour and if proper labour didn't start by the following morning, I'd have to be induced. That I really didn't want as I wanted the most natural birth possible and I didn't want any complications that would delay my recovery to surfing!
That afternoon, the back pains got more intense and more frequent. I'd been practising hypnobirthing breathing techniques from a book by Marie Mongon so was breathing through them. Though I was concerned as I felt no tightenings in my belly at all, so how could I be in labour? What was going on? Matt helped me relax, massaged my back and focus on my breathing. We'd done a couples relaxation for labour course which really helped him be as involved as he could be. Matt convinced me to call the midwives again. With the story the midwife said it was still likely early labour, but when I was on the phone with these waves coming in quite frequently, she asked me to come in.
I was anxious when I went in, as I didn't want to be sent home and be told I'd have to be induced. Fortunately, she said my cervix was very thin; baby was quite low down which is why I felt it all in my back; and that I could go to the birthing pool! I was delighted and much more relaxed!
Then, through Matt's teamwork, the most supportive team of midwives who went all the way for us, and a bit of gas and air, our son was born in water at 10pm. The only thing I needed was a few stitches from a small tear, which would take a minimum of 3 weeks to heal.
Since then, it has just been a joy taking care and breastfeeding our son...surfing hasn't been as much of a priority as I'd thought. I do miss it a bit though especially with all the sunshine.
I learnt that you can't avoid complications from birth, as anything can happen, but you can prepare as best you can to have the smoothest, most relaxed birth possible, and thus hopefully a faster recovery. Hypnobirthing breathing techniques really worked for me and perineal massage is meant to help prevent tears.
Returning to surfing
We were all very exhausted after the birth and needed a few days of pure rest. My body however still felt strong. I didn't get breathless going up the hill anymore and my appetite is back to being a bottomless pit. On day 5 I started to do 20 minute daily jogs/walks along the beach to stay fit and get my feet wet. I have to be aware of my body's recovery and not push it, so some gentle strengthening exercises are in order. Nothing too heavy on the core or involving 'sit-up' like movements as my abdominal muscles need the time to heal back together again. And off course I'm exercising my pelvic floor muscles!
When I mentioned I was jogging for 20mins a day from day 5, the midwife was very concerned and said I should wait 6 weeks. But my body felt well and this exercise felt so great. So why 6 weeks? Everyone's body is different, but I found this article by a runner who ran every day through her pregnancy and returned to her regular running routine just a couple of weeks after giving birth. Phew, I found it reassuring with some tips about returning to exercise. As with everything it's so important to go with my body and stop or slow down if it doesn't feel good. www.foxnews.com/health/exercise-after-baby-do-you-really-have-to-wait-6-weeks
Breastfeeding is demanding on the body so it is important to stay well hydrated and eat healthily for recovery, baby and more so if I do any exercise.
I am 'bleeding' a fair bit as expected and this could go on for a few weeks, before the neck of my womb closes. Going in the sea too early could give me an infection in my womb or my stitches, so I'm going to wait for 4 weeks at least and see how I go. Unless I can get my hands on some underpants that work like a drysuit! Everyone's body is different so I'll take it day by day.
Exclusively breastfeeding means that my day is guided by baby's schedule, so I can't always go for a surf when I want or for as long as I want. He may get hungry anytime. Although at times it seems he can go for an hour or two between feeds, I'm cautious to leave him in case he needs me. Matt is very supportive and keen to feed him expressed milk if he does get hungry when I'm out, but a lot of guidance advises against offering a bottle before breastfeeding is established around 4 weeks of age as it may confuse them and affect how they feed. I also noticed that he tends to sleep more regularly in the morning with long 'cluster feeds' in the afternoon and and evening. We'll have to adapt accordingly. Maybe morning surfs are better. Another reason to be patient and wait.
3 weeks after birth
It was my husband's birthday and I was still bleeding, so I ordered some waterproof incontinence pads that said 'suitable for swimming'.
With the hope that I would stay dry. In the water, my body felt lighter, almost normal and it was easier to paddle around. I felt fit, likely thanks to surfing all the way through pregnancy and swimming on the onshore days. My pop up was a bit confused since I'd spent the last few months crawling up the board, and I needed time to get myself into the habit of popping up like I used to. The waterproof pants unfortunately didn't keep me dry. I needed to wait a little longer for the bleeding to stop, even though the rest of my body felt fine.
4 weeks after birth
My bleeding uterus felt like it had almost healed and I didn't get an infection after the last attempt, so I braved another surf. Luckily my mum was with us and took our baby whilst he slept. He seemed to consistently sleep for at least an hour between feeds so we took this window to go. Surf when the baby sleeps! It's been difficult to time it really in these early weeks as more often I've been prioritising sleep when the baby sleeps, but hope this will get easier and more opportunity arises.
2 1/2 months after birth
Things are getting easier. A friend told me it took her 10 months to get to her pre-pregnancy surf ability. Duck diving is still easy as I did a lot during pregnancy and am a stone heavier! Paddling is also alright as is my endurance also thanks to the swimming I did. However, my pop up is the one thing that still needs work as I got into habitually crawling slowly up the board during pregnancy! So I keep practicing on the kitchen floor!
I've had a good few surfs now thanks to my husband, his parents and friends. On weekends and evenings after his work we have been tag teaming. I'd feed or cuddle our son while he surfs and my husband walks on the beach with our son in the carrier while I surf for an hour. Our son doesn't like to be still for long and is either calm or asleep in the carrier for at least an hour before he gets hungry again! We started to get him used to the bottle but he decided to refuse it. So, my husband has no emergency way to feed him so he stands on the beach with two arms in the air to get me out if our son is getting hungry. Usually I've fed him enough just before my session, but sometimes I haven't judged it quite right! Parents, and a couple of generous friends have also carried our son along the beach so that my husband and I could surf together. It does take a bit of organisation in the evenings so that we surf, make dinner and be back in time to put baby to bed.
A friend just created a Facebook group called 'Cornwall Surf Mums', so that mums can help each other surf by taking care of each other's children. I met up with one mum who didn't have her son with her but kindly took mine for a bit. I'm not sure how a mum will manage with our son in a carrier and their own child yet, but where there's a will there's a way!
When I got out of my car, still in my wetsuit, I felt a slight trickle of fluid down there. I thought it was salt water and carried on with my day. Then that day, I felt a few fluid trickles and wondered if my waters had gone. At 9pm we called the midwives and they asked me to come in for an assessment. They did an examination and asked me to wear a pad to test the fluid. They concluded it wasn't amniotic fluid and was just something that can happen later in pregnancy called 'cervical weeping' where lots of fluid comes from the neck of the womb and it can feel like your waters have gone. My mucus plug or 'show' also came out, but this wasn't a sign of labour either, so they sent me home.
Then at 2am in the morning, I felt a definite 'pop' in my belly and a gush of water. I felt my waters had definitely gone. Then I started getting waves of pain in my lower back. I didn't want to wake Matt as it didn't seem like labour had started and it was important we got sleep. I didn't really sleep much and thought to call the midwives in the morning. The midwife we saw confirmed my waters had gone but this back sensation was early labour and if proper labour didn't start by the following morning, I'd have to be induced. That I really didn't want as I wanted the most natural birth possible and I didn't want any complications that would delay my recovery to surfing!
That afternoon, the back pains got more intense and more frequent. I'd been practising hypnobirthing breathing techniques from a book by Marie Mongon so was breathing through them. Though I was concerned as I felt no tightenings in my belly at all, so how could I be in labour? What was going on? Matt helped me relax, massaged my back and focus on my breathing. We'd done a couples relaxation for labour course which really helped him be as involved as he could be. Matt convinced me to call the midwives again. With the story the midwife said it was still likely early labour, but when I was on the phone with these waves coming in quite frequently, she asked me to come in.
I was anxious when I went in, as I didn't want to be sent home and be told I'd have to be induced. Fortunately, she said my cervix was very thin; baby was quite low down which is why I felt it all in my back; and that I could go to the birthing pool! I was delighted and much more relaxed!
Then, through Matt's teamwork, the most supportive team of midwives who went all the way for us, and a bit of gas and air, our son was born in water at 10pm. The only thing I needed was a few stitches from a small tear, which would take a minimum of 3 weeks to heal.
Since then, it has just been a joy taking care and breastfeeding our son...surfing hasn't been as much of a priority as I'd thought. I do miss it a bit though especially with all the sunshine.
I learnt that you can't avoid complications from birth, as anything can happen, but you can prepare as best you can to have the smoothest, most relaxed birth possible, and thus hopefully a faster recovery. Hypnobirthing breathing techniques really worked for me and perineal massage is meant to help prevent tears.
Returning to surfing
We were all very exhausted after the birth and needed a few days of pure rest. My body however still felt strong. I didn't get breathless going up the hill anymore and my appetite is back to being a bottomless pit. On day 5 I started to do 20 minute daily jogs/walks along the beach to stay fit and get my feet wet. I have to be aware of my body's recovery and not push it, so some gentle strengthening exercises are in order. Nothing too heavy on the core or involving 'sit-up' like movements as my abdominal muscles need the time to heal back together again. And off course I'm exercising my pelvic floor muscles!
When I mentioned I was jogging for 20mins a day from day 5, the midwife was very concerned and said I should wait 6 weeks. But my body felt well and this exercise felt so great. So why 6 weeks? Everyone's body is different, but I found this article by a runner who ran every day through her pregnancy and returned to her regular running routine just a couple of weeks after giving birth. Phew, I found it reassuring with some tips about returning to exercise. As with everything it's so important to go with my body and stop or slow down if it doesn't feel good. www.foxnews.com/health/exercise-after-baby-do-you-really-have-to-wait-6-weeks
Breastfeeding is demanding on the body so it is important to stay well hydrated and eat healthily for recovery, baby and more so if I do any exercise.
I am 'bleeding' a fair bit as expected and this could go on for a few weeks, before the neck of my womb closes. Going in the sea too early could give me an infection in my womb or my stitches, so I'm going to wait for 4 weeks at least and see how I go. Unless I can get my hands on some underpants that work like a drysuit! Everyone's body is different so I'll take it day by day.
Exclusively breastfeeding means that my day is guided by baby's schedule, so I can't always go for a surf when I want or for as long as I want. He may get hungry anytime. Although at times it seems he can go for an hour or two between feeds, I'm cautious to leave him in case he needs me. Matt is very supportive and keen to feed him expressed milk if he does get hungry when I'm out, but a lot of guidance advises against offering a bottle before breastfeeding is established around 4 weeks of age as it may confuse them and affect how they feed. I also noticed that he tends to sleep more regularly in the morning with long 'cluster feeds' in the afternoon and and evening. We'll have to adapt accordingly. Maybe morning surfs are better. Another reason to be patient and wait.
3 weeks after birth
It was my husband's birthday and I was still bleeding, so I ordered some waterproof incontinence pads that said 'suitable for swimming'.
4 weeks after birth
My bleeding uterus felt like it had almost healed and I didn't get an infection after the last attempt, so I braved another surf. Luckily my mum was with us and took our baby whilst he slept. He seemed to consistently sleep for at least an hour between feeds so we took this window to go. Surf when the baby sleeps! It's been difficult to time it really in these early weeks as more often I've been prioritising sleep when the baby sleeps, but hope this will get easier and more opportunity arises.
2 1/2 months after birth
Things are getting easier. A friend told me it took her 10 months to get to her pre-pregnancy surf ability. Duck diving is still easy as I did a lot during pregnancy and am a stone heavier! Paddling is also alright as is my endurance also thanks to the swimming I did. However, my pop up is the one thing that still needs work as I got into habitually crawling slowly up the board during pregnancy! So I keep practicing on the kitchen floor!
I've had a good few surfs now thanks to my husband, his parents and friends. On weekends and evenings after his work we have been tag teaming. I'd feed or cuddle our son while he surfs and my husband walks on the beach with our son in the carrier while I surf for an hour. Our son doesn't like to be still for long and is either calm or asleep in the carrier for at least an hour before he gets hungry again! We started to get him used to the bottle but he decided to refuse it. So, my husband has no emergency way to feed him so he stands on the beach with two arms in the air to get me out if our son is getting hungry. Usually I've fed him enough just before my session, but sometimes I haven't judged it quite right! Parents, and a couple of generous friends have also carried our son along the beach so that my husband and I could surf together. It does take a bit of organisation in the evenings so that we surf, make dinner and be back in time to put baby to bed.
A friend just created a Facebook group called 'Cornwall Surf Mums', so that mums can help each other surf by taking care of each other's children. I met up with one mum who didn't have her son with her but kindly took mine for a bit. I'm not sure how a mum will manage with our son in a carrier and their own child yet, but where there's a will there's a way!
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Surfing through pregnancy
I'm Rimca, I found out I was pregnant in September 2018, and honestly I panicked! I was looking forward to a winter of constant surfing so I could get more fluent at shortboard riding. So, I’ve been determined to find a way to surf through my pregnancy in our cold UK waters. Here is a summary of my journey so far.
I first tried surfing in 2002 with Birmingham University Surf Society. Since then I’ve been obsessed and surfed whenever I could,get to the sea. I’ve spent most of my life living inland away from the sea. I moved to Newquay, Cornwall, South West England a year ago and have been surfing to my heart’s content since.
To give you an idea of my level of surfing, I can catch most things and go left, right, up and down on a 7’6 NSP minimal; and get the occasional good ride on a short board. I love shorter boards, and have been working to get a faster pop up, but my ride count is a bit hit and miss. Before I became pregnant, 3-4ft was my favourite wave height and I’d sometimes try to get out when it was about a gentle 6ft max. I have a long way to go before being a pro!
First Trimester
Surfing during pregnancy is a very new to challenge to me, and you don’t find much about it. Fortunately, I have a very supportive partner, but we both worried a lot about the impact of surfing on the health of our growing baby. Could it precipitate a miscarriage for example? What happens if I have tumbly wipe out? What if I fall or hit my belly?
One GP told my partner that you can do a lot of sports as you normally would in the first trimester as the uterus moves up from the pubic area from about 15 weeks of pregnancy. So the baby is still quite well protected and small.
However, I faced other challenges as I felt quite nauseous and tired from about half way through my first trimester, including feeling quite motion sick when floating about in the sea! Strangely, but not uncommon (apparently), my nipples would get very painful from the cold sea, so I had to get out as soon as that started happening. Before, it was my hands and feet that told me I was cold! I was also travelling to London for half the time for work, enduring 8 hour long coach journeys, which I found a struggle. I would get wiped from feeling nauseous on the coach and felt I was losing my surf fitness from all the time spent in London. I was given tips such as eating ginger biscuits and wearing these motion sickness bands on my wrists (in the sea too!) which did sort of help. The tiredness was likely the bigger challenge.
We thought it would be a good idea to go to Portugal for 10 days and have the nurturing warmer waters. The warm water sure was a luxury and we loved the food. Although I found myself easily tiring from the early morning car journeys to find the best surf spot. The sea would get very crowded after 10am. I would get very cautious amongst the crowds and when the waves were quite punchy, I was often too frightened to go for certain waves in case I hurt myself or our baby. So I often felt I was unable to surf, and wished I was in the familiar, mellow waves on our doorstep in Cornwall! I was craving familiarity and comfort.
We had our first scan at 12 weeks and this reassured us that baby was very healthy in there. In hindsight, perhaps I could have gone for more waves.
I did do my best to keep my fitness up through the gym and home exercises as I had done before. It was all more of an effort being tired, but definitely important to keep it up to ensure I stayed fit during pregnancy. Perhaps through staying active, the nausea was better than it could have been.
I did some internet research about surfing through pregnancy. The first thing that comes up on a google search is
"There are a number of reasons why surfing during pregnancy is a bad idea, if not dangerous. Pregnant women should avoid holding their breath, falling, taking a hit, mild abdominal trauma and waist twisting actions, all of which occur frequently when you are surfing.”
This was a bit discouraging to see at first but following that were a good few articles full of tips. One I found encouraging was a month-by month video blog of pro-surfer, Holly Beck surfing through her pregnancy. https://saltwatermama.com/tag/surfing-pregnant/ Although she was in warm waters without a wetsuit and already had the skills of a pro, it told me that it was possible. It was also important to give it my best go, and share my experiences with others through this blog.
There wasn’t much on the internet about cold water surfing through pregnancy, but a few mothers shared their experiences of cold water swimming, and some swimmers had still been doing tumble turns throughout pregnancy. So tumbling lightly after a mild wipeout in cold water should be all right!
After the internet search, I really wanted to find other women who were pregnant and surfing in Cornwall. My midwife had mentioned that she had worked with ladies that surfed through their pregnancies, even in the winter, but I hadn’t met any myself! So I searched and reached out to the Facebook Group ‘Kernow Surf Girls’ and asked if anyone had any tips. I wrote:
“Hey surfing girls! I'm about a third way through my pregnancy and still surfing. Any lovely ladies currently surfing through their pregnancies or have done? How far through did you surf? What do you do about winter wetsuits when the bump gets bigger? I'd love to hear any tips you have!!!!”
The responses I received were positive, encouraging and a mixture of experiences, including ladies who had surfed throughout their pregnancies and over winter:
“I didnt surf but I swam in the sea during pregnancy. In early winter I just stuck to my summer suit as very stretchy. It stretched over bump till I was about 6 months. After that I was a bit too fat (I had a giant bump) and wasn't sure about how cold I should be. Went for a float in the pool then lol
“Getting a bigger suit a good idea if cheap or second hand. I didn’t see the point in getting a new one for a few months. I’m not totally sure on the cold but I was very anxious as a pregnant lady! I also had SPD in my later pregnancy and had to slow down on exercise anyway. Everyone’s different and you could well be able to surf all through”
“Hey Rimca, I was surfing up until about 35 weeks. Once I got to about 28 weeks I swapped to a foamie and surfed a little less, just in small uncrowded conditions. Really really enjoyed sharing waves with my bump and as long as you’re comfortable with doing so then carry on as long as you like. I was heavily pregnant through the summer so didn’t have the issue of thicker neoprene. But I did buy a summer suit in a size bigger. In winter suits I might even go two sizes bigger especially in second hand suits with less stretch. I paddled with my weight on my chest and knees. This makes it pretty hard to breathe in the later stages but so do most things haha. Also when I was very big and the waves were slightly larger (2 ft) I got my husband to paddle out for me and I just swam. Keeping vaguely paddle fit has helped me get back in to it too. Now, I don’t surf loads but have averaged once a week since he was 5 weeks. I’m pleased with this as his Dad works away from home during the week so no one to handover to. But once the days are longer and he’s back for after work sessions I should be surfing quite a lot.”
“My friend surfed pretty much through the whole pregnancy, just letting her wetsuits stretch with it. I wanted to do the same, but didn’t get that far”
Second Trimester
My second Trimester started in November. Luckily the nausea and tiredness passed and I started to feel more normal. Also, my work in London had come to a temporary end so I was able to spend more time surfing. I did feel I had lost a lot of surf fitness and worried I wouldn’t be able to get it back. Although after a couple of weeks of surfing, my paddle strength came back and I could catch waves again on the short board! Fortunately, our 20 week scan showed that baby was very healthy.
Just goes to show that you can increase your fitness and strength throughout pregnancy – for some reason I had it in my head it was a downward spiral! I’m still doing 2 chin-ups and 5 pressups a day as they are good for paddle strength. I’m careful to do these gently and in small amounts, as too much can cause ‘diastasis recti’. I met a lady at a friend’s gymnastics class, who specialised in pregnancy fitness. She advised to do whatever exercises felt comfortable, but to regularly check for ‘diastasis recti’ and if I noticed it, to cut out these exercises that do use a lot of core strength. Diastasis recti is when the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy. Here is a page I found useful to know more about it, with a video showing you how to check for it. https://wellnessmama.com/60398/diastasis-recti/
Unfortunately, about 2 months into my second trimester, I started having dizzy spells about an hour after eating breakfast. It started after a bowl of porridge, but then also happened after lighter foods like a milk shake or cereal. They'd happen when I was sitting and it made morning surfs quite difficult as I was worried about fainting in the water. My doctor said it was normal for blood pressure to be at its lowest in the second trimester. I wasnt missing out on much surf as mostly it was onshore in January and February. So I decided to try timing it so I went for surfs after the dizzy spells had passed. For a morning surf, I'd set my alarm and eat an hour and a half before setting off. If the surf was better in the afternoon or late morning, it was much easier.
Unfortunately, about 2 months into my second trimester, I started having dizzy spells about an hour after eating breakfast. It started after a bowl of porridge, but then also happened after lighter foods like a milk shake or cereal. They'd happen when I was sitting and it made morning surfs quite difficult as I was worried about fainting in the water. My doctor said it was normal for blood pressure to be at its lowest in the second trimester. I wasnt missing out on much surf as mostly it was onshore in January and February. So I decided to try timing it so I went for surfs after the dizzy spells had passed. For a morning surf, I'd set my alarm and eat an hour and a half before setting off. If the surf was better in the afternoon or late morning, it was much easier.
I started showing with noticeable bump around 20 weeks and have had to adapt my surfing somewhat.
Paddling: I’d feel a lot of discomfort and pressure if I lay too much on the bump, so adopted a paddling posture where I’d rest mainly on my breasts and knees with my bum more in the air. It did make paddling quite exhausting initially, but the more I did it, the more I got used to it. I did get quite breathless when I was paddling in this position over longer distances or through long paddle outs requiring lots of duck-diving. I’m hoping as the bump gets bigger, I too will gradually adapt with it.
Board type: Bigger boards are great for needing less paddle power to get into waves earlier, so you can pop up more slowly, but I found them more uncomfortable to lie on as they sit very horizontally on the water. I do think that board choice is a personal preference. I found shorter boards more comfortable to lie on as they sink slightly, taking the pressure off the belly. So now I use my partner’s 5’8 wide fish for the more offshore days and a 5’6 foamie for the less windy and onshore days. I am quite small at 5’2, weighing 8 stone before I got pregnant. I do love the foamie more as it feels safer being softer. Shortboarding does mean I’d get into waves a bit later than with a bigger board and I’ve been working on putting my chin down on the board when the wave comes, kicking, and being in the right spot, so that I don’t have to paddle as hard.
Pop-up: It has been tough popping up, as I can’t spring up as quickly on the shortboard and have a thick winter wetsuit to contend with. My feet hang off the end of the board and I’m careful not to bounce off my belly. So I’ve gone back to crawling up the board to get to my feet, but crawling up as fast as I can! I’ve tried to adapt my pop up a bit and I'll soon share a video of the adapted version if I find it works!
Duckdiving – This hasn’t really changed much and comes as a welcome break from lying on my stomach when paddling out!
Falling – when coming off a wave or wiping out, I make sure I fall backwards when I can and roll up into a protective ball otherwise.
Wave choice and conditions: I choose mellow days, preferably around 2-3ft, 4ft at a stretch. I don’t go for closeouts, fast or hollow waves for the time being. I also tend to go at quieter times which are usually early mornings and weekdays.
Baby On Board Rash Vest – my partner had this custom made for me as a present so that people would look out for me in the water.
In conclusion I feel our bodies in pregnancy are capable of a lot more than I had believed. Our ancestors likely hunted and gathered throughout their pregnancies and carried food and water over long distances. Babies are also in a very protective, warm fluid sack, and likely need very high impact trauma to harm them. It is important to listen to our bodies, however, and I’ve been taking each day as it comes. I may have to stop surfing earlier through my pregnancy or be able to carry on throughout. We shall see and I’ll keep you posted.
Third Trimester
I entered my third trimester in the middle of February 2019. By now, I'd had a few weeks off surfing as it was either too big or too messy. I felt I'd become an unfit blob and my bump had definitely got bigger. Still I didnt expect to be as knackered as I was when I returned to the water. It was tough - even the paddle out in 2 foot surf was an exhausting eternity where my legs and arms felt like they'd given up. When I walked back up the hill, a 5 minute trek home, I found myself so puffed I had to stop every 30seconds.
I was perplexed and didn't know what had suddenly happened to my body. My midwife told me I was borderline anaemic and gave me some iron tablets that were playing havoc with my bowels and I would get dizzy 40 minutes after breakfast most mornings. I had to find a way round it and by trial and error I learnt that surfing soon after food or before having any food at all in the morning both made me tired. So, I decided to go 3 hours after having breakfast (so I had my predictable dizzy spell well before going for a surf) or 3 hours after lunch. I timed my eating according to the surf forecast, meaning if I wanted to get in the water at 9am, I had to eat breakfast at 6am, and luckily this worked!! I found myself having more energy for surfs. It was still tiring paddling around with my head down and bum in the air, but a lot more manageable, and I could walk back up the hill!
I learnt that my body is changing a lot during pregnancy, and it is possible to adapt around it, and likely, everyone's body will behave differently, needing their own adaptations.
7 months down the line and wow, it is getting harder. We had a couple of weeks of big onshore conditions so I took to swimming to maintain my fitness. I tried to go every other day and swim 60 lengths each time in the 25m pool. For some reason my legs weren't too keen to kick a lot, so I did many of the lengths with paddles or a pullboy. I'm happy I did as I feel my arms still have it in them.
So after a couple of weeks of swimming, I returned to the water with a bigger bump. Paddling with my bum in the air is getting more tiring. I understand why many women give up after 7 months as lying on the board is more uncomfortable. I tried an 8ft board but found it a lot more uncomfortable than my smaller boards. Still determined to keep going although the winter wetsuit does feel more arduous and walking back after a surf is even more tiring on my legs. So now I really take my time - I give myself time to paddle out, only choosing smaller more manageable conditions and give myself time to sit on the beach after a surf, before I walk back. Although I'm used to pushing myself, now really is the time to take it easy!
Another tip - make sure you are well hydrated before a surf. This was definitely related to my energy levels.
33 weeks: I was going in 2-3 ft conditions for about a week, and felt like I was getting used to it. Still hard work, but then on the 7th day of good surf, I found myself absolutely exhausted. I'd had to park a 10 minute walk (pre-pregnancy 5 minutes!) from the beach and was completely knackered that I didnt have the energy to get into the water once I'd got there. I felt very disheartened, but learnt to take the day off and rest. I realised that some days I just had more energy than others, perhaps as baby was going through a growth spurt. I just had to go with it. I really noticed the extra energy moving in a 5/4 wetsuit uses! The following day, I took an 8ft foamie into knee high conditions. I was paddling around balanced on my knees, though found it hard to have the momentum to catch waves that way. So, I did my bum in the air posture just when I wanted to catch something. Although I do find it tricky and slow to pop up, it made for a relaxed surf.
35 weeks: A positive change seems to be happening after a few days of regular surfing...I feel 'used to' being pregant and surfing, more energetic and fitter in the water. I still wouldnt brave more than a 2-3ft surf, but I didnt expect to feel better! I was expecting a downward spiral where it got harder and harder. I suppose anything is possible.
36 - 38 weeks: The energetic days continue. Perhaps it's the nesting instinct. My bump has got considerably bigger and I'm finding it much slower to pop up, catch waves and paddle along. I think the weight of the bump further back is creating more drag in the water as I paddle and try to catch waves, so I've tried to adjust my position but find it quite hard to get it right. I feel safer with a shortboard as I can duckdive it, but don't ride waves anymore as my pop up is very slow. Still good to go and splash about in the water though. However, I did take my 8ft foamie out and it gave me lots of time to get up (a crawl up these days) and have some rides. I thought lying on it comfortably would be much harder but after a couple of sessions I got used to my bum-in-the air position but just had to make sure my head was down to make it comfortable enough. Is a bit of an effort carrying it to the beach so I only take it if I'm parked close enough, without steps to contend with or have my husband to carry the board for me!
The emotional side: I see myself as quite an ambitious surfer, although not one that picks it up very quickly. I do need lots of time in the water. So the journey through pregnancy has been challenging as I've been less able to surf in the conditions I'd like or be able to do new things. I found it sad when I couldn't pop up anymore, had to stick to safer small conditions, and had days when I was too exhausted to go in the water. I've learnt to adapt as much as I can, hopefully encouraged other pregnant ladies to continue surfing, and started really enjoying just being in the sea, duckdiving or just catching a wave without getting up! I did experience a bereavement of my former independence and know life won't be the same again. Though I know something beautiful is coming, that I am experiencing the priveledge of carrying a baby in my womb and get to experience the intimacy of childbirth. These things my husband can only experience so far. It is different for men as their bodies don't change like a woman's does. My husband has been able to surf the same as he has always done and been progressing, and we go out in different conditions now. I did envy him, though he has been very understanding and has his own challenges to face when it comes to becoming a father. Although I have no idea what to expect I remind myself of the magic and honour that comes with being a parent and that gets me through when I feel a bit down about my surfing.
I was perplexed and didn't know what had suddenly happened to my body. My midwife told me I was borderline anaemic and gave me some iron tablets that were playing havoc with my bowels and I would get dizzy 40 minutes after breakfast most mornings. I had to find a way round it and by trial and error I learnt that surfing soon after food or before having any food at all in the morning both made me tired. So, I decided to go 3 hours after having breakfast (so I had my predictable dizzy spell well before going for a surf) or 3 hours after lunch. I timed my eating according to the surf forecast, meaning if I wanted to get in the water at 9am, I had to eat breakfast at 6am, and luckily this worked!! I found myself having more energy for surfs. It was still tiring paddling around with my head down and bum in the air, but a lot more manageable, and I could walk back up the hill!
I learnt that my body is changing a lot during pregnancy, and it is possible to adapt around it, and likely, everyone's body will behave differently, needing their own adaptations.
7 months down the line and wow, it is getting harder. We had a couple of weeks of big onshore conditions so I took to swimming to maintain my fitness. I tried to go every other day and swim 60 lengths each time in the 25m pool. For some reason my legs weren't too keen to kick a lot, so I did many of the lengths with paddles or a pullboy. I'm happy I did as I feel my arms still have it in them.
So after a couple of weeks of swimming, I returned to the water with a bigger bump. Paddling with my bum in the air is getting more tiring. I understand why many women give up after 7 months as lying on the board is more uncomfortable. I tried an 8ft board but found it a lot more uncomfortable than my smaller boards. Still determined to keep going although the winter wetsuit does feel more arduous and walking back after a surf is even more tiring on my legs. So now I really take my time - I give myself time to paddle out, only choosing smaller more manageable conditions and give myself time to sit on the beach after a surf, before I walk back. Although I'm used to pushing myself, now really is the time to take it easy!
Another tip - make sure you are well hydrated before a surf. This was definitely related to my energy levels.
33 weeks: I was going in 2-3 ft conditions for about a week, and felt like I was getting used to it. Still hard work, but then on the 7th day of good surf, I found myself absolutely exhausted. I'd had to park a 10 minute walk (pre-pregnancy 5 minutes!) from the beach and was completely knackered that I didnt have the energy to get into the water once I'd got there. I felt very disheartened, but learnt to take the day off and rest. I realised that some days I just had more energy than others, perhaps as baby was going through a growth spurt. I just had to go with it. I really noticed the extra energy moving in a 5/4 wetsuit uses! The following day, I took an 8ft foamie into knee high conditions. I was paddling around balanced on my knees, though found it hard to have the momentum to catch waves that way. So, I did my bum in the air posture just when I wanted to catch something. Although I do find it tricky and slow to pop up, it made for a relaxed surf.
35 weeks: A positive change seems to be happening after a few days of regular surfing...I feel 'used to' being pregant and surfing, more energetic and fitter in the water. I still wouldnt brave more than a 2-3ft surf, but I didnt expect to feel better! I was expecting a downward spiral where it got harder and harder. I suppose anything is possible.
36 - 38 weeks: The energetic days continue. Perhaps it's the nesting instinct. My bump has got considerably bigger and I'm finding it much slower to pop up, catch waves and paddle along. I think the weight of the bump further back is creating more drag in the water as I paddle and try to catch waves, so I've tried to adjust my position but find it quite hard to get it right. I feel safer with a shortboard as I can duckdive it, but don't ride waves anymore as my pop up is very slow. Still good to go and splash about in the water though. However, I did take my 8ft foamie out and it gave me lots of time to get up (a crawl up these days) and have some rides. I thought lying on it comfortably would be much harder but after a couple of sessions I got used to my bum-in-the air position but just had to make sure my head was down to make it comfortable enough. Is a bit of an effort carrying it to the beach so I only take it if I'm parked close enough, without steps to contend with or have my husband to carry the board for me!
The emotional side: I see myself as quite an ambitious surfer, although not one that picks it up very quickly. I do need lots of time in the water. So the journey through pregnancy has been challenging as I've been less able to surf in the conditions I'd like or be able to do new things. I found it sad when I couldn't pop up anymore, had to stick to safer small conditions, and had days when I was too exhausted to go in the water. I've learnt to adapt as much as I can, hopefully encouraged other pregnant ladies to continue surfing, and started really enjoying just being in the sea, duckdiving or just catching a wave without getting up! I did experience a bereavement of my former independence and know life won't be the same again. Though I know something beautiful is coming, that I am experiencing the priveledge of carrying a baby in my womb and get to experience the intimacy of childbirth. These things my husband can only experience so far. It is different for men as their bodies don't change like a woman's does. My husband has been able to surf the same as he has always done and been progressing, and we go out in different conditions now. I did envy him, though he has been very understanding and has his own challenges to face when it comes to becoming a father. Although I have no idea what to expect I remind myself of the magic and honour that comes with being a parent and that gets me through when I feel a bit down about my surfing.
Wetsuit – I found it important that I stayed warm during the winter months and got a warm Patagonia wetsuit. I probably don’t stay in the water as long as I used to and get out as soon as I start to feel a bit cold. The wetsuit should last in size for most of my second trimester. Cold car park changes are more of a no no and I drive back in my wetsuit with a thick fleece and waterproof trousers as to not get the seat wet! I went to the wetsuit makers, ‘Snugg’ and they said they’d adapt my wetsuit when I’m bigger, by inserting panels either side of the belly and will take them out after I’ve given birth – all for a reasonable price that’s way cheaper than buying a new suit!
My Patagonia is still fitting pretty well in my 7th month of pregnancy. Malcolm from Snugg advised me that they stretch a lot but as it's a good quality suit, will still retain it's original shape. He said getting into a wet wetsuit (under a hot shower!) helps it to stretch more and the time to change it would be obvious as it'd feel very uncomfortably tight.
The suit isn't too tight now but in preparation, a male friend sold me a relatively new Snugg suit. The extra length and room around the belly gives lots of leaway for my growing bump, and Snugg offered to just bring in the neck, arms and armpits as the rest fitted fine. Again for a very reasonable price!
My Patagonia is still fitting pretty well in my 7th month of pregnancy. Malcolm from Snugg advised me that they stretch a lot but as it's a good quality suit, will still retain it's original shape. He said getting into a wet wetsuit (under a hot shower!) helps it to stretch more and the time to change it would be obvious as it'd feel very uncomfortably tight.
The suit isn't too tight now but in preparation, a male friend sold me a relatively new Snugg suit. The extra length and room around the belly gives lots of leaway for my growing bump, and Snugg offered to just bring in the neck, arms and armpits as the rest fitted fine. Again for a very reasonable price!
After Birth
Much medical advice says that you should return to more strenuous exercise from about 5-6 weeks after birth. I’m preparing myself for this, by staying as fit as I can when I can and maintaining myself with more gentle supportive exercises such as swimming and yoga when I can’t go surfing. There is a lot of pregnancy yoga about and it is a fantastic way to meet other mums.
So we will have a baby that will require all our attention...how will we fit in time for surfing? My partner and I will likely play tag-team when he’s not working. We don’t have lots of money for a babysitter, though it is an option. Another solution is setting up a babysitting club with all the mums I’m meeting through yoga and antenatal classes. We’ll all need short breaks from baby-care to do the shopping; go to the gym; surf (although I havent met many surfing pregnant ladies yet..even when wearing the rash vest!); or have an evening with our partners. Perhaps we can help each other out and look after each other’s babies from time to time. http://www.sit4sit.com/ is a free website that allows you to set up a babysitting circle and track the hours everyone in the group is spending sitting for others. That is a start and I’ll crack on to get it set up!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)