Brooke, Backcountry Ambassador
I’ll be honest, within the first 5 minutes of reading “pregnant” on my home pregnancy test, I had already calculated out when my due date was in relation to ski season. My joy and excitement was mixed with the tiniest bit of sadness, realizing I might have to sit out the first few months of the season. Exploring the backcountry on my skis has become the way I feel most alive during winter. Just last winter I began snowshoeing, and immediately fell in love with the travel, exercise, and the ability to explore the backcountry in a new way. This winter I have LOVED snowshoeing throughout my pregnancy!
Why Snowshoeing is Perfect for Pregnancy
My obstetrician was thrilled that I planned to continue my active lifestyle during pregnancy. Maintaining fitness can help with a smooth delivery and can help with recovery. Snowshoeing is the PERFECT winter sport for pregnancy. The traction from the snowshoes helps stabilize my daily changing center of balance. Hiking through fresh, deep snow is very efficient in getting my heart rate up. The quiet solitude of the mountains is a welcome escape from the everyday stresses of pregnancy. I love the contemplation time along the trail. BONUS: The lunges I have been doing to stay in shape for snowshoeing double to strengthen pelvic floor plate muscles (important for delivery AND recovery).
What to Wear
You may or may not have noticed, but there isn’t a lot of maternity Gore-Tex outerwear on the market. I haven’t seen ANY. Around week 30 of my pregnancy, I could no longer zip up my usual snow clothes. Luckily, the longer, looser fit of my husband’s ski jacket covers the unbuttoned portion of my bibs. Although your body temperature might be running higher than usual, you still want to make sure to bring enough layers on the trail. I have been wearing my usual wicking base layers under my Gore-Tex outerwear, but have been packing a fleece jacket and down vest so I have some flexibility.
Tips
During pregnancy, more than ever, it is important to listen to your body. Pay attention to hydration, nourishment, heart rate, temperature, fatigue, and balance. Be prepared to adapt your objectives. Now that I am 38 weeks into my pregnancy, I am making a point to stick to trails that only venture a few miles from the car. As you continue to maintain your pre-pregnancy fitness level, your muscles adapt to your changing center of balance. Consistency is key!
Sometimes it can feel a little frustrating to have shorter trip objectives, but flexibility is important. Last Saturday my husband and I planned to snowshoe up a larger peak in the Wasatch; however, an hour into our hike, my hips started to painfully ache. Knowing the pain would only increase, we decided to instead bag a smaller peak along the saddle. Although I initially felt disappointed, the disappointment quickly went away on the summit. I made it. I carried this large belly of mine up a mountain. I knew I had pushed my body and mind, without crossing the limit.
During these last sweet months of pregnancy, I have loved taking my son up different peaks in the Wasatch. I have loved becoming more in tune with my body. I have learned to listen in a new way. Instead of being overruled by the fears and trepidation that can sometimes accompany pregnancy, snowshoeing allows me to experience the beauty of winter, and to tune into my changing body, and the life growing inside of me.