If you get pregnant and you're a cheerleader, you may worry about the effect jumping could have on your baby. Cheerleading jumps can put stress on the abdomen and pelvis. You could also sustain a fall during jumps. Talk to your doctor about the safety of continuing to do jumps if you're pregnant.
Exercise in Pregnancy
If you're already active, doctors today believe that continuing to exercise has health benefits during pregnancy. If you haven't been active, doctors do not recommend starting a strenuous exercise program like cheerleading. If you exercise regularly, your body adapts to the physical demands of the exercise, such as an increased heart rate and oxygen needs. If your body hasn't already adapted to those demands, pregnancy -- a time when the fetus puts new physical demands on your body -- isn't the time to start.
Jumping Risks
Most of the risks of exercise during pregnancy come from the risk of falling. When you're newly pregnant, your baby is well protected within the pelvis. In later pregnancy, a direct fall on your abdomen could injure the fetus or the placenta, the organ that provides nutrients to the baby. Because your center of gravity changes during pregnancy and your pelvic joints become more lax in preparation for birth, you have an increased risk of falling during pregnancy.
Contraindications
A well-implanted pregnancy will not dislodge from exercise. But if you're having a problematic pregnancy, your doctor may forbid any strenuous exercise, not just cheerleading. Bleeding during pregnancy can indicate a possible miscarriage; while bed rest will not save a pregnancy destined to miscarry due to chromosomal abnormalities -- the most common cause of miscarriage -- strenuous exercise could threaten a pregnancy when a clot develops beneath the placenta, a condition called subchorionic hematoma or hemorrhage. If you develop high blood pressure or other pregnancy complications, such as preterm labor, your doctor may also restrict exercise. If you're experiencing episodes of dizziness, bleeding or vaginal fluid leakage, talk to your doctor before exercising.
Considerations
If you continue to do cheerleading jumps while pregnant, with your doctor's approval, take precautions. Don't become overheated, since a high temperature could harm your baby, who has no way to sweat. A core temperature of 102 degrees for more than 10 minutes could harm your baby, the BabyCenter website warns. Stay hydrated; dehydration can lead to preterm labor and can increase the risk of fainting or dizziness. Drink at least 8 ounces of water before exercising, 8 ounces for every 20 minutes of exercise and 8 ounces afterward.
