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Amusement Park Rides While Pregnant

Summertime evokes images of outdoor entertainment often associated with amusement parks. For women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant, spending a day at an amusement park could have devastating consequences to a developing fetus and in some cases can lead to death. While many pregnant women have ridden roller coasters without consequence, there are potential risks involved with such activities that should be avoided. In addition to the jarring motions of most amusement park rides, oxygen levels can vary at different heights, which can pose the threat of oxygen deprivation to the fetus.

  1. First Trimester

    • During the first trimester, roller coasters do not pose a threat to pregnancy. Since the fetus is relatively small at this point in development, sudden movements associated with amusement park rides may not have an impact. The mother may, however, notice increased nausea or motion sickness.

    Second and Third Trimesters

    • Once a pregnant woman advances past her first trimester, it is best to take every precaution to avoid jarring movements that can cause trauma to a developing fetus. After the first trimester, women begin to gain weight and may even have difficulty properly fastening safety harnesses, which makes it unsafe to take amusement park rides.

    Placental Abruption

    • According to the American Pregnancy Association, many rides and activities associated with amusement parks are not recommended for pregnant women. When riding a roller coaster, for example, there are many starts and stops and jarring actions that could be harmful to a developing fetus. These could lead to premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, known as placental abruption.

    Consequences

    • Placental abruption can happen anytime after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some of its symptoms are vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, back pain, uterine tenderness and uterine contractions. The consequences of placental abruption are life-threatening for both the mother and the fetus and include maternal shock, premature birth, oxygen and nutrient deprivation for the fetus, later neurological problems and stillbirth.

    Safe Amusement Park Rides

    • Thankfully, not all amusement park rides include anti-gravity, sharp turns and stops or high speeds. There are many rides that are pleasant and safe for a pregnant woman to enjoy. Rides with posted caution signs should obviously be avoided, but some others are safe for a pregnant woman. The Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and river rides on quiet water are acceptable.

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