Playing netball whilst pregnant

**pEtReLi11** · 24-04-2012 12:42

Hi all

im 21 weeks & lllllooooovvveeee netball.! I've stopped playing but everytime i go to a game i'm dying to get on the court.! Would it be selfish for me to get back on the courts.? or should i just sit out.? when should a pregnant woman stop playing.?

**Mischa44** · 24-04-2012 13:16

Hi, I haven't played netball for a long time, or had a baby (yet!) so I'm not much to go by, but I'd be tempted to say you've done the right thing by stopping playing, especially now you're over half way there in your pregnancy. If it were me I'd be worried about getting knocked over/falling over/too much running/jumping etc...

**Rose&Aurelia** · 24-04-2012 13:25

Lady at work played till she was 7mths and not so quick on the court. what does your care provider say?

**sajimum** · 24-04-2012 13:28

I hate missing out too! I dont know what the guidelines are, but at that stage of pregnancy i would be worried about a knock to the stomach, etc. I know where i play (mixed) it was be pretty rough). I stopped at 14 weeks during my last pregnancy as i didnt want to be playing after people knew i was pregnant ( i would hate to play against someone who was pregnant - too stressful!). This time around i was only 7 weeks as it was the end of the season.

**frodo** · 24-04-2012 14:54

The main concern I had was the body overheating. Overheating can be damaging to the little one.
I didn't play when I was pregnant.

**Milly Molly Mandy** · 24-04-2012 16:39

I wouldn't play. I stopped gym classes etc as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Too much at stake, knocks, overheating etc. it's only a short time to miss out. You will be back on the court in no time, 9 months goes pretty quick. Congrats on your pregnancy!

**happygirl1982** · 24-04-2012 17:22

Don't stop all exercise though!! Thats worse.

**sycx** · 24-04-2012 17:54

I stopped at 12 weeks (which happened to coincide perfectly with the end of a season), but I play mixed indoor - that's a lot of players in a very enclosed area. Also being a division 1 competition, games are fast paced and sometimes can be rough.

In the past, I've copped a concussion (ball in the side of the head) and had to have shoulder surgery from general play that was neither intentionally rough or malicious. For these reasons, I chose not to continue during pregnancy.

I figure, I can always control myself / how hard I play etc, but I have no control over the other 13 players or the ball!!

**Girl X** · 24-04-2012 17:56

I loooove netball, but I stopped when I was pregnant with DD. The OB recommended not letting my heart rate go over 140bpm while pregnant (just as a general rule). He said exercise was fine, but to avoid hot and sweaty exercise - which netball definitely is!

I was also worried about a big collision/ flying knock, which can happen now and again. I played for just a couple of weeks (until grand final) when I found out, and even then it was hard as I backed off a lot and didn't go for the kind of flying intercepts that I normally would! So that helped me feel okay with the decision - thinking that if I had continued then I wouldn't have played as well anyway.

I get where you're coming from though. I missed it so much!

**JoMcY** · 25-04-2012 13:18

I'd definitely stop! I attend ante natal Pilates and aqua aerobics classes and so can keep exercising. Both are run by specialist physios and both have advised that no amount of bouncing/ jumping is appropriate for a pregnant body. The worse news is that post-baby you should only attend post natal exercise or walk for atleast the first 6-9 months. google 'prolapsed uterus' if you need convincing! The good news is that I've found ante natal classes are a great form of exercise and you can get some great advice and meet people who are going through the same things as you.