Can you play volleyball while pregnant? Did you ever wonder? Here we want to look at volleyball guides for pregnant women.
This volleyball guide for pregnant women is aimed at guiding pregnant women on how to play volleyball safely while pregnant and also educate them on the risks, benefits and safety precautions while playing volleyball as a pregnant woman.
As a woman whose favorite sport is volleyball, do you wonder how you could continue to play volleyball while pregnant?
It’s very common to think of giving up on your most loved sport because you’re pregnant because of the possible risks involved in playing volleyball while pregnant, nevertheless, there are also benefits and safety precautions you can follow while playing volleyball as a pregnant woman.
In this blog post we would dive deeply to expose you to the risks, benefits and safety precautions in playing volleyball while pregnant.
Can You Play Volleyball While Pregnant?
Yes, but you must take precautions. According to stamfordadvocate.com, “Performing while pregnant is risky for athletes whose sport depends heavily on balance, because carrying a child does throw off your balance.”
Nevertheless, many health professionals recommend that pregnant volleyball players can engage in the sport 2-3 times weekly at the early stages of their pregnancy as long as it doesn’t interfere with their medical conditions.
Here is a quick volleyball guide for pregnant women. If you want a comprehensive guide on how to play volleyball safely as a pregnant women, then this guide will worth something.
See Also:
- Official Volleyball Net Heights for All Levels of Play
- Discover Volleyball Injuries: Prevention and Recovery Strategies
- Volleyball Game or Match: Volleyball Terminology Explained
- Volleyball Nutrition – Best Foods and Eating Habits for Players
- Volleyball Players Positions and Roles Explained
Volleyball Drawback for Pregnant Women
Volleyball is a game played by two teams of six players. It requires agility, focus, strength, and coordination while playing. Playing volleyball requires jumping, passing, hitting, blocking and defensive skills.
All these skills are essential but can be very strenuous to the pregnant woman because it involves physical movements such as jumping which could have adverse effects on the pregnant woman and her baby.
Volleyball at the Early Stage of Pregnancy
Are you in your first trimester and want to continue to play volleyball?
Research has it that during your first trimester as a pregnant woman you can still carry on with your lifestyle which is playing volleyball.
During your first trimester, your uterus, it’s lining and your blood vessels thickens to supply sufficient nutrients to your fetus.
At the first trimester stage your belly hasn’t become very big in fact at the end of your first trimester your fetus is like the size of a lemon.
As a pregnant woman that has been into volleyball before pregnancy you can still continue playing volleyball at that early stage of your pregnancy, carrying out such activity keeps your body agile, active and strong.
Read More: When Should I Stop Playing Volleyball While Pregnant?
Benefits of playing volleyball while pregnant
Volleyball involves movement of the body which is healthy for pregnant women. It is advisable to be physically active during pregnancy, you can be physically active by playing volleyball. Here are the benefits of playing volleyball during pregnancy:
- It improves your rest level.
- It helps maintain a good and lively mood.
- It helps to reduce the high risk of pregnancy complications.
- It helps the pregnant woman to stay active throughout her pregnancy period.
- It helps to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension.
- It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight.
- It helps you to be stress-free.
All this and many more are some of the benefits of playing volleyball or staying active during pregnancy. Always remember that your safety and the safety of your child is important to you so always be conscious of your body and learn to understand your body languages. Also remember to take adequate rest and don’t overplay volleyball.
Risks of playing volleyball while pregnant
As a philosopher once said, what has an advantage also has a disadvantage. There are risks involved in playing volleyball while pregnant some of which includes:
- Risk of collision: In the game of volleyball there is a high chance of collision between players which could be risky to the baby. It could lead to placental abruption. Placental abruption is a condition where the placenta tears off from the uterine wall due to the collision of people which leads to injury in the uterus.
- Risk of falling: Volleyball players have a high risk of falling during the game. As a pregnant woman it is not advisable to fall during your pregnancy period especially on your abdomen. As your belly increases in size, your body gravity and balance begins to shift, you won’t be able to jump properly and if you jump you might lose your balance and fall. This fall would cause injury to both you and your baby.
Safety tips to take when playing volleyball while pregnant
Here are some of the tips to take when playing volleyball while pregnant:
- As a pregnant woman, don’t be involved in any competitive volleyball games.
- If you’re to play volleyball, avoid diving, defense, and jumping, also don’t put too much pressure on your abdomen.
- Always stay hydrated.
- From time to time take breaks so you can rest.
- The most important safety tip is to always listen to your body.
In all dreams to continue playing volleyball while pregnant endeavor to consult your healthcare provider because they would provide you with better solutions.
If you can keep to all this listed you can live your dreams of playing volleyball and also keep you and your baby healthy.