Can You Ride a Golf Cart While Pregnant? (Be Careful!)
Being a father and watching my wife in labor, I can relate that pregnancy already gives you the ride of your life, with its ups and downs.
You may wonder what you can safely do, whether you are early in pregnancy or further along. As a golfer who has a wife who loves to tag along, one of my questions was, can you ride a golf cart while pregnant?
As a general rule, you can safely ride a golf cart when pregnant. It depends on the type of cart ride you have and how far along you are in your pregnancy. You can comfortably get on a golf cart if you ride it around paved paths and soft turf. The smooth movement ensures you do not exert excessive pressure on your abdomen from jerky movements on bumpy rides.
Below are some points to help you know when to ride a golf cart during pregnancy. I also touch on how different rides affect early pregnancy, helping you improve safety for you and your precious cargo.
What to be careful of when riding while pregnant?
You would want to avoid getting on a golf cart when the ride is a bumpy experience on off-road routes. Staying off the cart during early pregnancy is crucial since the rough ride can endanger you.
Generally, I advise avoiding rough rides and other physical activities that cause you to fall. You want to postpone any plans for downhill skiing, horseback riding, gymnastics, skating, or cycling until after giving birth.
Like a bumpy golf cart ride, these activities cause jerky movements that may affect your pregnancy in the early stages.
of Callaway ERC Triple
Track Golf Balls for
yourself or your buddy!
Can Bumpy Rides Affect Early Pregnancy?
Though it is rare, the bumpy ride on golf cart paths can result in a heart pattern issue for your unborn baby.
Besides, a bumpy ride may enhance abdominal pain or induce uterine contraction. The rough ride can trigger a miscarriage if you carelessly get on a golf cart.
As mentioned above, medical experts generally advise against certain activities that may endanger early pregnancy.
For example, they recommend extra caution when using stairs, since a slip threatens your safety.
What vehicles should you avoid when pregnant?
| Vehicles | Rides |
| Motorbike | Roller Coaster |
| Bicycles | Pendulum Ride |
| Scooter | Dodgemds |
| Mini Bike | And other bumpy and thrilling rides! |
The quick starts and stops, accompanied by jarring motions, can place excessive pressure on your abdomen. This pressure can result in complications such as placental abruption, endangering you and your baby.
Additionally, the rides may trigger vomiting to add misery to your morning sickness, and nobody wants that. This would be true with a car, a golf cart, or even a lawn mower (not sure why you’d be mowing while pregnant, but to each their own)
So play it safe and do what you think is best.
and apparel.
gear, accessories and apparel. (affiliate link)
The Case of Casey Martin
Casey Martin is a disabled golfer who had to have a law passed by the U.S. Supreme Court to use a golf cart at LPGA Tour Events.
But even then, she was not pregnant.
Along with the ruling that she could use a golf cart during the tour, it was also prohibited any pregnant golfer from riding in a golf cart.
It’s one of those weird liability things as the LPGA doesn’t want any blame for something unfortunate happening to a pregnant golfer while playing in front of millions of people live and on TV.
At the end of the day, why not play it safe?
Can You Play Golf When Pregnant?
You can enjoy some rounds on the golf course even when pregnant. Before I got pregnant, I was among the people who treated expectant women like glass. I often thought they were so delicate. Hence, you can imagine my mind when I met a few at our local golf centers. They caused me enough anxiety to be a distraction to my game.
Julius Caesar once stated, “Experience is the teacher of all things.” My pregnancy taught me that carrying a child is a marvelous experience. It does not turn me into a disabled person. It is easy to assume that you cannot play golf until after giving birth.
But you can resume your game by getting clearance from your doctor.
As your bump grows, the center-of-mass shift enables you to change your swing for a perfect hit. Maintaining the correct center of mass lets you keep a proper balance, allowing you to optimize distance and control.
You can achieve this by weighting your left foot when swinging from the right. This position enables you to keep your body stable and central. You do not move it to the right when pulling your hands back to the right for the swing.
I also have a separate article regarding practicing golf swing here: 11 Golf Exercises to Improve Swing Speed Hack.
Do Professionals on the LPGA Play While Pregnant?
Definitely, as many have done it despite their pregnancy, these pregnant competitors include Julie Inkster, Nancy Lopez, Hee-Won Han, and Laura Diaz are examples of women who played LPGA events while pregnant.
Regardless of the circumstance, golf offers an excellent workout opportunity, especially when walking around the course.
You also learn more about your gaming skills as your body changes. For instance, low-impact golf helps boost your stability by working your core.
In Conclusion
No scientific consensus exists that rides in a golf cart can be harmful during pregnancy. But with that said, there is no evidence proving them as entirely safe either.
Regardless, it is wise and best to play it safe when in doubt concerning any ride, including a ride on a golf cart. Even though it is not like an amusement park ride, it would be wise to use the same precautions.
I recommend exercising discretion when riding in anything during pregnancy that won’t ensure a smooth ride.
Read my other article here: Easy Way to Know If Golf Cart Shocks Are Bad.
