Pregnancy is a time of immense change for the expectant mother, both physically and emotionally. It is an exciting time, but this journey also puts you under a lot of stress with several questions doing the rounds in your head.
You wonder if any of the normal activities before are now safe for you to do. One such activity is lawn mowing. Pregnant women who are used to tending their lawns on their own can be stuck with one question – Can you ride a lawn mower while pregnant?
Here’s the thing with doing any activity during pregnancy – it depends on several factors. Not all pregnancies are the same, and you may face different issues during the time. Some women may be able to do hectic activities while others may not, depending on how healthy you are.
If you have been struggling with this question ever since you got pregnant, keep reading to find out the answer to your query – can you ride a lawn mower while pregnant?
Can You Ride A Lawn Mower While Pregnant?
For some pregnant women, strenuous exercise is not healthy, and it can even be harmful, while for others, it is no big deal. The important thing is to always consult your doctor before doing anything hectic or unusual in your pregnancy.
Riding a lawn mower may not be extremely stressful, but there are other factors to consider, like the weather, allergens in the field, the stage of your pregnancy, and more. Let’s dig deeper into “can you ride a lawn mower while pregnant.”
Benefits of Mowing Your Lawn in Pregnancy
In most cases of pregnancy, some form of physical activity can prove to be very beneficial, and doctors may even recommend light exercises. While riding a lawn mower does not involve much movement, it can still be a refreshing activity.
The actual mowing does not need much effort, but there are associated activities you have to do, like cleaning the lawn mower. Being out in the sun and open air is highly important for expectant mothers, so mowing your lawn can also fulfill that.
Some benefits of exercising while pregnant include controlled weight gain, the release of happy hormones or endorphins, management of stress, and easing the process of delivery. Make sure to keep a bottle of water with you to prevent dehydration and keep it light.
Listen to your body, and at any point, if you feel even slightly uncomfortable or stressed out, stop doing everything and take a rest.
When Can Riding A Lawn Mower Be Unsafe?
This point needs to be reiterated here because of its significance that you must always consult your doctor before doing any activity or exercise because not all bodies will react the same way. In some cases, even light activity can be dangerous for pregnant women, such as in a high-risk pregnancy.
If your doctor has advised against any activity or has labeled your pregnancy as high-risk, make sure to follow the instructions and not ride or use a lawn mower.
Moreover, pregnancy can be more difficult in certain stages than in the other stages. So, your doctor may advise against riding a lawn mower during some months, while in other months, you may be given the all-clear to use a lawn mower and perform a light activity.
Associated Risks of Riding a Lawn Mower
Riding the lawn mower is a safe activity usually. However, some associated risks are involved in being out in the field during pregnancy. You must be aware of these so you can take action and do your best to avoid risk.
Early Labor
Instead of using a hand lawn mower, riding a lawn mower is easier during pregnancy. However, the machine emits continuous vibrations, leading to some serious issues if you sit on the moving machine for too long.
Using a riding lawn mower for longer periods can induce labor due to all the vibrations. It can also cause gestational diabetes or lead to more weight gain during pregnancy. All of these can consequently lead to birth complications.
Allergens and Diseases
Riding the lawn mower may not affect your health directly, but you should also be aware of the associated risks, such as getting bitten by the ticks and bugs in the field. You may contract diseases like Lyme disease on being out in the open for too long.
Also, the outside environment can be a health issue if you have pollen allergies. These allergens and diseases can be detrimental to your pregnancy. So, take some precautions beforehand to protect yourself.
High temperature and dehydration
If you are taking the lawn mower for the ride outside, make sure to check the weather and temperature beforehand.
If the temperature is too high or the day is particularly sunny, you may want to avoid going on the lawn mower as your body can get overheated, which can lead to exhaustion, high temperature, fatigue, and more. All of which are harmful during pregnancy.
Moreover, the high temperature and exhaustion can lead to dehydration if you are not constantly sipping on water. Water is essential for the formation of amniotic fluid, which plays an important role in your pregnancy. Dehydration can lead to severe health issues. So, be careful in going overboard.
Make Someone’s Help!
The best way to ensure you are safe and sound while mowing a lawn is to take someone’s help. Ask a family member or a friend to remove all obstacles and potential item of hazards from your path before you mow the lawn.
Or you could just have someone else mow the lawn completely while you are pregnant to avoid getting too stressed out.
Conclusion
I hope this answers your question, “Can you ride a lawn mower while pregnant.” The short and simple answer is that you can safely ride a lawn mower in most cases of normal pregnancy.
If your doctor has declared your pregnancy to be high-risk and advised you not to do any strenuous activity or even light activity, do not experiment by going out on the lawn mower.
You will have to adjust and make a few changes for a safe pregnancy, but it will all be worth it in the end.