Paintball has been around with us since 1981, and with time its popularity only increased. Now it is also famous among women as well, especially the tomboys like me. Paintball is no longer just a men’s game. So the question arises “Can you go Paintballing while pregnant?” Even though you can but you shouldn’t.
As the ratio of women playing paintball rises so are the many questions regarding them as well. Because women ‘s bodies undergo many changes throughout their life, one of these changes is pregnancy.
Paintball is not a safe physical exercise for pregnant women. It is a full on packed action sport with potential injuries, falls, and other risks. And you should not risk any mishap for your unborn child.
Also, it’s not easy to handle paintball guns during a paintball game for pregnant women. A paintball gun is not something you can hold and aim for while you are pregnant. Despite being careful and fully prepared you can’t stop an accident from happening.
So, Can You Go Paintballing While Pregnant? Definitely NOT!!! is the right answer for you, for so many reasons which I will discuss in this article.
In this article, I will shed some light on why you can not play paintball while pregnant and which other fun as well as SAFE, and healthy exercises you can practice during your pregnancy.
And even if you still insist on playing paintball while pregnant, even though it’s highly not recommended, there are a few precautions that you can take for the safety of your child and yourself, that we came to know on the playing field.
Why can you not play Paintball while pregnant?
Pregnancy is the most exciting and miraculous time for a woman. And each tries to do what is best in the interest of the child. There are a lot of different healthy activities you can try but paintball is not one of them!
Paintball is a hazardous sport for pregnant ladies due to various reasons like:
- Falling & Tripping
- Collisions
- Heatstroke/Overheating
- Getting hit by a paintball in the stomach
- Strained Ligaments or Even Broken Bones
Falling and Tripping
Nowadays players can enjoy paintball both indoors and outdoors with different environments to experience as realistic shooting experience as possible with all the bunkers and other stuff to take cover from.
To create a natural scenario, you seldom find a clear smooth platform field for paintball. Most of the time the surface is rough, rocky, and filled with tree roots.
Even with extreme focus, concentration, well balanced, and the extra care you might fall or trip over while running around from being shot.
Carrying the extra weight of paintball protective gear also raises the chance of falling or losing balance. And a fall at any stage of pregnancy is fatal for both the child and mother.
Since paintball is considered to be an extremely physical sport that requires running, sprinting, dodging, and jumping. Falling and tripping are also a part of it.
And if by any chance you fall on your abdomen while pregnant there are highly dangerous consequences including damaging the placenta that could lead to the following situations:
- Premature Delivery
- Abnormal Fetal Development
- Stillbirth
- Fetal Development Restriction
To avoid dangerous outcomes like these, don’t go paintballing while pregnant.
Heatstroke or Overheating
Pregnant ladies’ body temperature is higher than the average person’s body temperature. Carrying a baby requires strength and more energy consumption as compared to normal scenarios.
If you are not being careful your body might get overheated that would welcome other problems like:
- Weakness
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Organ damage due to overheating
- Higher chances of miscarriage. According to gynecologists, higher body temperature during early pregnancy raises the risk of miscarriages.
Your body temperature easily gets high during physical activity and paintball is all about being physically active. And on top of that, you would be wearing all the safety paintball gear like gloves, masks, elbow and knee pads, protective vest, and so on.
Bending, jumping, and running around are all packed, and carrying extra weight around yourself like paintball markers, hoppers, air tanks, and paintball pods; all these things add up to raising your body temperature.
Collisions
Collisions do happen once in a while during a paintball match and are commonly seen. There are high chances of you running into someone or vice versa due to the adrenaline rush during a fierce shooting paintball marathon.
Taking a Paintball Hit in the Stomach
Even though getting hit by a paintball round is not that much hurtful but still it hurts. Experiencing pain is different for every single person; some might feel more pain and some players just felt stung of being hit by a paintball.
Still getting a direct paintball hit on the stomach is dangerous for the baby, especially in the late/third trimester.
Strained Ligaments or Broken Bones
Pregnancy increases the laxity in body joints which means pregnant women are more prone to brone breaking and strained Ligaments.
All the body exertion during a paintball match puts more stress on the whole body.
What to do if you insist on playing paintball during pregnancy?
Even though it is highly recommended NOT TO PLAY PAINTBALL WHILE PREGNANT! Some players are stubborn enough and insist on playing it despite knowing all the warnings, claiming to be extra careful and that it’s safe to play during early pregnancy (which is not).
Here are some extra precautions that you can practice for double safety. Because there is still no such rule that pregnant ladies can’t go paintballing.
The matter of fact is not about ‘can’t’ but ‘shouldn’t’. So it is our life motto: “it’s better to be safe than to be sorry”.
- Create a padded shield around your belly. Because it is painful getting hit by a paintball.
- Try to play paintball on indoor paintball fields that have a much smoother surface as compared to other paintball fields.
- STOP PLAYING instantly if you feel your body temperature rising. I recommend you take A LOT of short break intervals in between your matches. Sit under a shade or air conditioner. Many indoor paintball fields have air conditioning facilities.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
- Limit your paintball play time to only 20 to 25 minutes. The regular paintball match is 30 to 45 minutes long.
- Gear Up Properly. Don’t miss out on any safety gear other than a mask and vest like elbow and knee pads, and a helmet for head protection.
- Prepare an Emergency Medical Kit. You can’t stop accidents from happening but you can always prepare yourself for them.
Paintball is NOT the only Sport Pregnant Woman Should Avoid!
Paintball is not the only sport that is dangerous for pregnant ladies. Any sport with a high probability of falling should be avoided during this time, like:
- SkyDiving
- Horse Riding
- Water Skiing
- Downhill Skiing
- Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Road Cycling
- Surfing
- Roller Skating
- Mountain Climbing results in a low supply of oxygen and a risk for altitude sickness.
- Scuba Diving results in decompression sickness leading to miscarriages.
- Collision Sports like volleyball, squash, football, boxing, judo, hockey, and so on.
- Avoid water slides and other thrilling rides in the amusement parks to be safe.
These sports are fun to do and are thrilling but at the same time could be dangerous for you and the unborn child. You can always try these sports after your delivery and safely healing period, there is always time so don’t rush things.
What Kind of Exercises Pregnant Women Can Do?
Staying safe and being physically active are two things. You can still do some exercise to stay active and healthy which is beneficial for both of you.
The most safest and productive exercises that you can do during pregnancy are these that I know of to stay active:
- Brisk Walking (this walk is faster than a stroll and slower than running)
- Swimming
- Stationary cycle machine
- Low impact aerobics under the direct guidance of aerobic professionals.
- Elliptical Machine
- Yogas Poses advised by professional yoga instructors. This will also help you later during delivery.
Any sport or exercise that has fewer chances of losing balance or falling down could be a part of your physical activities. But no matter what you choose to do consult your gynecologists first.
A Typical Pregnancy Exercise
A simple safe and healthy exercise routine that my sister used when she was pregnant included:
- A 5 minute warm up
- Stretching for continuous 5 minutes
- Cardiovascular activity for at least 13 to 15 minutes.
- Low impact exercises for the duration of 10 to 15 minutes
- Ending the exercise routine with some more stretching.
Here is a link to very beneficial yoga poses video that my sister used as a reference for her pregnancy exercise routine:
“Always remember that your pregnancy exercise routine could vary from day to day according to your body condition. Since your body goes through pretty major changes during pregnancy. It is best to work out the exercise routine on a daily basis according to your mood and body condition.”
Warning Signs for Over Exercising
Even though exercising is considered to be one of the healthiest ways for staying active during pregnancy. But it could also be dangerous if you overexert yourself. Look out for these warning signs in your daily workout routine:
- Increase or decrease in fetal movement.
- Periods cramps or continuous contractions
- Abnormal headaches
- Chest Pain
- An irregular or sudden increase in heart rate
- Feeling pain in the pelvic, abdominal, or lower body part
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Feeling extreme nausea or dizziness
- Sudden excretion of fluid from the vagina
- Short of breath
- Experiencing difficulty in walking
- Swelling in any part of the body like ankles, face, or hands.
If you notice any of the above mentioned signs. Stop your workout routine and quickly consult your doctor or a health professional before continuing them.
Conclusion
Even though there is no rule that a pregnant woman cant play paintball, they should not, for the sake of their unborn baby and their safety. We strongly advise you to take things easy and slow during this special time of yours.
You can always have an exciting shooting experience after childbirth. With a bit of patience and some time you can come back to play paintball to your heart content.
Stay safe and stay healthy during your pregnancy. This is also a very special bonding time and experience with your loved one. Live it to the fullest! I hope you get lots of answers concerning your question ‘Can You Go Paintballing While Pregnant’.
