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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Ice skating and snowboarding during pregnancy

Assigned clinical reviewerPerry Friedman· MD, FACOG-MFMDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

What does the evidence say about ice skating, sledding, and snowmobiling during pregnancy?

  1. MotherToBaby names downhill skiing specifically among the activities to avoid during pregnancy because the chance of falling is higher, in the same list as gymnastics, horseback riding, jet skiing, water skiing, and surfing, all grouped under the same fall-risk logic rather than being sport-specific exceptions. 1
  2. In a 20-year US emergency department dataset, ice skating accounted for roughly 403,791 skating-related injuries, with the head, face, and neck the most common site of injury at 34.5% of cases, and a concussion rate of 5.9%, notably higher than the concussion rates seen with inline or roller skating in the same dataset. 2
  3. Studies reviewed in a 2025 analysis found the frequency of falls during pregnancy ranged from about 12.7% to 27% of pregnancies, with fall-risk scores climbing through the second and third trimesters and about 10% of women falling three or more times, alongside a measured link between fall risk and weight gained during pregnancy. 3
  4. The same analysis notes that falls during pregnancy can lead to contusions, sprains, and fractures, and can also trigger obstetric complications including preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, uterine rupture, or stillbirth, consequences tied to the fall itself rather than to any one specific sport. 3
  5. Placental abruption is estimated to complicate 1% to 6% of minor injuries during pregnancy and up to 50% of major injuries, which is the mechanism that turns an ordinary hard fall on ice, a sled that tips, or a snowmobile jolt into a possible obstetric emergency rather than just a bruise. 4

Is ice skating, sledding, and snowmobiling safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. The uterus is still tucked low in the pelvis early on, giving some physical shielding from a direct blow, but that does not reduce the chance of a hard fall on ice or a sledding or snowmobile collision, so the caution starts now, not later.
  • Second trimester. Balance and reaction time are already shifting by this point as ligaments loosen and your center of gravity moves, which is exactly what makes catching yourself on skates or steering quickly on a sled or snowmobile harder than it used to be.
  • Third trimester. This is the trimester when falls are most common in pregnancy generally, and the abdomen is at its most exposed, so a hard landing, a sled that tips, or a snowmobile jolt over rough snow carries more consequence now than earlier on.

Frequently asked questions

Is ice skating ever okay during pregnancy if I'm experienced?

Being a confident, experienced skater lowers your own odds of falling, but it does not remove the risk from other skaters colliding with you on a shared rink or from a single bad landing on a hard, unforgiving surface. General fall-risk guidance does not carve out an exception for skill level.

What about snowboarding while pregnant?

Snowboarding falls under the same fall-risk category as downhill skiing, and general pregnancy exercise guidance groups the two together as activities to avoid because of the chance of a hard fall or collision, not because of anything specific to one board or one pair of skis.

Is riding as a passenger on a sled or toboggan safer than driving one?

It removes the steering demand, but not the risk of the sled tipping, colliding with another sled, or hitting a fixed object at speed, all of which can deliver the same kind of blunt impact to the abdomen regardless of who was steering.

Is snowmobiling different from driving a car on snow?

A snowmobile has less structure around the rider than a car, travels over uneven and often icy terrain, and can flip or collide with limited protection, which puts it closer to the fall-and-collision category than to ordinary winter driving.

Does cold weather itself add any risk beyond falling?

The main pregnancy-specific concern with these activities is the fall or collision risk itself rather than cold exposure, though dressing warmly, staying hydrated, and taking breaks are reasonable general precautions any time you're outside for a winter activity.

What if I already fell while ice skating or sledding early in pregnancy?

Contact your obstetric team even if you feel fine, since placental abruption does not reliably cause immediate pain or bleeding and can follow a fall that seemed minor. Monitoring rather than self-assessment is the safer path after any real fall.

When during pregnancy is the fall risk from these activities highest?

Research on falls in pregnancy generally finds the risk climbs through the second trimester and peaks in the third, as balance, weight distribution, and reaction time all shift, though the fall-risk logic behind avoiding these sports applies from early pregnancy onward too.

Can I go back to ice skating or snowmobiling soon after birth?

That depends on your individual postpartum recovery and clearance from your provider, since balance, core support, and joint stability all take time to return after birth. Ask at your postpartum visit rather than assuming a fixed timeline applies.

Related in the library

References

  1. Exercise

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/exercise-pregnancy/

  4. Pregnancy Trauma

    StatPearls via NCBI Bookshelf · https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK430926/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.