If you love amusement parks and planning on visiting one, find out can you go to haunted houses while pregnant in this post!
Haunted houses draw a crowd. Whether it’s a controlled setup in an amusement park or some dreary location with an unfortunate history, infamous for ‘paranormal activity, thrill-seekers seem to flock there. However, can you go to haunted houses while pregnant? Learn more about whether you should visit haunted houses during pregnancy and what are other sports that you can perform while pregnant.
Can Pregnant Women Enter Haunted Houses
Pregnant women are often cautioned against visiting haunted houses. The reason behind this directive appears to be two-fold- the threat of psychological distress and physical dangers that leave an effect on the baby.
1. Psychological Distress
Haunted houses are meant to frighten and keep visitors on edge. Fear triggers our fight or flight response and causes an adrenaline rush, elevating blood pressure and heart rate. Unlike horror aficionados, for those with a sensitive temperament who generally avoid scary situations and derive no enjoyment from horror films/ frightening displays, a haunted house visit can be a particularly stressful experience. This is associated with the increased hormone cortisol. However, a trip to a haunted house is a temporary situation, usually lasting less than 30 minutes. Research suggests that such an isolated shock/fright or a short-term spike in stress may not have any long-term effect on the baby’s wellbeing or increase the risk of miscarriage.
2. Physical Dangers
Haunted houses are poorly lit and littered with potential hazards that could hurt you or cause you to trip and fall. It is very easy to get injured in the dark. Moreover, frightened people tend to run haphazardly, shoving others out of the way, putting you and your bump in peril. You should not overlook this increased possibility of bodily harm.
It is best to be on the side of caution and avoid the unnecessary/added strain of visiting a haunted house while pregnant. Especially, if you get easily frightened or have a serious safety concern.
Exercise You Can Perform While Pregnant
The proper exercise regimen can help you maximize benefits for your mind, body, and baby. An active lifestyle is encouraged during pregnancy with no complicated exercises. Experts recommend 30 minutes of some sort of physical activity at least five days of the week or a total of 150 minutes per week.
When crafting a prenatal workout routine in consultation with your physician, consider the following things:
- Size and weight of your belly
- Altered balance and coordination due to shifting center of gravity
- Widened hips
- Loosened ligaments
- Release of the pregnancy hormone relaxin
- Energy levels
- Fetus safety, and your wellbeing
Activities To Avoid During Pregnancy
1. Contact Sports
You should avoid contact sports and activities with a high risk of falling or abdominal injuries. These sports include football, basketball, outdoor cycling, horseback riding, and vigorous racket sports.
2. Yoga Positions
Avoid advanced abdominal moves or backbends like specific yoga positions and stretches. Besides, avoid strenuous exercise or activities in hot conditions that elevate the body temperature like hot yoga, sauna, steam rooms, and hot tubs.
3. Weight and Strain
Refrain from lifting heavy weights, especially if you are new to strength training. Workouts that involve lying flat on your back for extended periods.
4. High Impact Activity
High impact activity with excessive jumping, bouncing, or jerky movements. These activities include cross-training or HIIT (High Impact Interval Training) with jumping jacks, burpees, skipping rope, or high knees.
5. Altitude Change Activities
Sports that involve altitude change like scuba diving, mountain climbing, high-altitude trekking. Holding your breath or remaining motionless for long might not prove healthy during pregnancy.
Instead, opt for low-impact cardiovascular exercises. Eg: swimming, prenatal yoga, pilates, walking briskly, and moderate-intensity aerobics. You can ride a stationary bike or elliptical. If you had a preferred pre-pregnancy workout regimen in place, talk to your physician about suitable modifications.
Immediately stop the workout and seek medical help if you experience any of the following:
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Bleeding or fluid leaking/gushing from your vagina
- Regular painful uterine contractions
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Heart palpitations
- Extreme shortness of breath
- Muscle weakness
- Inability to walk
Or, sudden swelling in the face, hands, or feet; especially calf pain/swelling, cramping or pain in the abdomen, hips, or pelvis, or also unusual, decreased, or absent fetal movements. Don’t ignore these warning signs.
