First Trimester: Surfing/Working Out Pregnant .

I am not a doctor and do not give medical advice. Nothing on this website is medical advice. If you have medical questions, please consult your doctor. I am sharing my personal pregnancy journey to provide information and support, but it is not intended as medical advice.

Both of my pregnancies were unplanned, but they are the biggest blessings of my life. My first-trimester symptoms were very similar for both pregnancies. The first time around I wasn't feeling well, and I thought something was seriously wrong with me. I would almost faint every time I stood up, and I was short of breath on runs. Even paddling out before catching a wave, I was having a hard time breathing and in a few cases saw stars. For me, there is a very specific feeling of pregnancy. So specific in fact that my second pregnancy knew right away as I was paddling out I was pregnant. It was a better reading than a pregnancy test, seriously!

HEART PALPITATIONS:

When I was pregnant, I experienced heart palpitations, which made me feel like I was having a heart attack. I went to a cardiologist after I gave birth, and he told me that my heart was very strong, but that I had a low resting heart rate due to all the exercise I do. While the heart palpitations are not dangerous, they can cause anxiety. I had heart palpitations during both of my pregnancies. The second time, they were worse. I went to the ER twice thinking I was dying, but they said everything was fine. The palpitations usually pass in about 4-5 minutes, but they're very frightening. I've learned to slow my breathing and heart rate, but it's not easy.

If you are having heart palpitations during pregnancy, please see a specialist and get it checked out. I went to a heart doctor and had a heart monitor for two weeks. I also had an EKG, ultrasound, and many other tests to make sure my heart was okay. Thank goodness everything was fine!

SHORTNESS OF BREATH:

I have been an athlete all my life, and one thing I am sure of is my breath. At one point I could hold my breath for 5 minutes and 12 seconds. I felt out of breath after each wave while surfing and between workouts. I was slower than usual when running, and even had a few moments of seeing stars. This was a big hint that I was pregnant.

I experience shortness of breath while surfing. I felt like I had to stop, relax, and get through it. I never surfed alone, and I always let my partner know how I was feeling before I went surfing. If you are going to pursue surfing while pregnant, I strongly suggest telling someone or having someone with you.

CONFIDENCE DEATH:

When you're pregnant, your body changes quickly, and your mind races. You have endless questions that neither Google nor anyone else can fully answer. You worry about things you never worried about before. You feel different in your skin, and your brain chemistry is changing.

All of this can make you question your ability to be the person you've always been. On top of that, we live in a society that doesn't support women in sports or motherhood. You're pioneering a space in human existence that is both terrifying and beautiful. All of this weighs on your confidence and body image. If you're anything like me, you might already have issues in the department.

I found the world of surfing to be toxic because the industry clings to appearance over performance. It's cruel and unfair. Surfing on the North Shore of Ohau with even one speck of cellulite, and being over the age of 22 is like the ultimate sin. If you are young, have a great body, are parent-funded, and have all the time in the world to maintain social media posts, you'll get sponsored and championed. I'll get into that in a different post but my point is, that my confidence went through a death, and staying in the water, moving forward, and becoming a mother to my powerful son, gave me a new sort of confidence. Which is why you are here now reading these things.

I was pregnant and surfing, and I was having a hard time finding information about it. I felt lost until I came across Holly Beck's video blog, which documented her experience of surfing while pregnant. Holly's video blog about surfing while pregnant was a huge relief for me. I would have tried it anyway, but seeing her thrive gave me hope and encouragement that it could be done.

PAINFUL BODY PARTS/SEA SICKNESS:

On a scale of 1-10, your breasts will hurt at a 20. You might even see nipple rash and have red irritated nipples no matter what you wear. And you might feel throbbing nerve endings on fire, after paddling hard for a wave!

I didn't experience nausea during my first pregnancy, but I did during my second. I was sick the entire first trimester, and second trimester. I even experienced intense seasickness while surfing. I found that going over the waves triggered a barfing fit, but duck diving them was better. Barfing in the lineup is terrifying and dangerous, so I had to come to terms with it and set aside bigger wave days for after pregnancy.

MIND GAMES:

During pregnancy, the mind plays tricks on you, making you question your abilities and your right to pursue your passions. If you're like me, you might already have self-confidence issues, and pregnancy can exacerbate those feelings. Add to that the fact that society doesn't support women in sports or motherhood, and you've got a recipe for doubt and second-guessing. Mom guilt already starts, and maybe your partner is truly worried about you and your baby. My partner, Shayden, was super supportive but there were a few big days when he didn't truly feel comfortable with me going out. I take pride in considering his feeling so this was another part of mind games that got me.

SOCIETY DISAPPROVAL:

I was pregnant when COVID broke out, and I had no doctors to consult. I was on my own, but I was comfortable with that. I tuned into my intuition, which is the greatest gift God gave me. I ran and surfed throughout my pregnancy, and I did everything my heart, body, and mind allowed me to do. The only thing that caught me off guard was the negative comments I received from others.

I was running the bike path on the North Shore, enjoying the peace and beauty of the trees and shoreline. I was feeling proud of myself for being true to myself. An older woman stopped me to tell me that running pregnant was child abuse. She went on to tell me she called the cops on me! I wanted to ask her what the 911 dispatcher told her, but I just wanted to get far away from her. Many people shamed me for working out while pregnant.

I was surfing by myself at a secluded break called Parking Lots when a guy paddled over and sat so close to me that his feet were touching mine. He started battling me for waves, which made it clear that he had a problem with me. I asked him what his problem was, and he said that it was ugly to see a woman surfing while pregnant or being athletic and fat.

He told me my place was sitting on the beach filming the guy who got me pregnant. His last remark was my last straw. He said that I was giving women the wrong idea. That "there is no place for women in the water in the first place other than something good to look at between waves. Only girls with tight asses get paid to surf nowadays".

I lost my cool and hit my red line when a guy verbally attacked me for surfing while pregnant. I will spare you the details of my response, but it was some of the most foul language I've ever uttered. If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have invited him to the beach for a fight he couldn't win.

After losing my cool and hitting my red line when a guy verbally attacked me for surfing while pregnant, I caught my next wave in, went in, sat alone, and just cried my eyes out. I realized that I got even more upset knowing that when I lost my composure, I also lost in front of my unborn son, and all women who choose to IMUA in their sport during pregnancy, especially in surfing. I let ignorance win and should have just felt bad for him and his obvious misery.

I quickly realized, that if I am going to stand for women and children, I better handle myself in the face of adversary. Even if my hormones want me to eat him alive, I need to remember that quote "Never cast pearls before swine." In other words to not waste good things on people who won't appreciate them. It comes from a saying of Jesus in the Bible, Matthew 7:6

Things like that happen to better you, not stop you. If someone says something stupid to you, just blow them off and wish them a great day!

SO WHY SURF PREGO if all this is happening? 

I guess you have to see how important sports or surfing is to you in the grand scheme of your physical, mental, or spiritual well-being. For me, the love of surfing and sports is the greatest source of my mental, physical, and spiritual health. Growing up, I didn't have my mom and dad there to nurture my insecurities, so I would play soccer, run, swim, or just be active, and it always made me feel amazing. Not to mention, I am a person who loves a great challenge. If it seems impossible, I want to try it. I also want to be the best I can be for my family and the people around me.

Catching just one wave, seeing sea animals, the beautiful mountains, the ocean, a happy face, or just the pure beauty of the ocean, makes it all worth it. A happy mamma even in the very beginning translates to our children. None of the experiences mentioned above are bad experiences to live in my eyes. They are experiences that I am thankful to have and grow with.

I can find a way to be the space for others out there who need a little love and insight. Motherless daughters now have a place to belong, and anyone seeking information can find something here instead of spending hours searching the internet for a bit of hope to cling to. Even if this helps only one person, I am so happy. God has called me to do this. It was scary, but I knew I just had to start and it would work out along the way. And it truly is.

I got you. See you in the second trimester.

Love,

Danielle