Some of you may have been there a time or two… Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stop doing what you love. Last winter I was pregnant with my husband’s and my first child. We were both a little hesitant on what I would be capable of doing because I was due in February and would be really pregnant during the ice season. Typically I assist with our guided trips in the winter but my husband didn’t think that was going to be possible.
However, anyone who knows me knows that not much slows me down. Well, I spoke to my doctor about what I could and could not do while pregnant. Basically her main concern was me falling. She told me to avoid any activities in which I could fall. Well, I can tell you at 41 weeks pregnant in February you could still catch me cruising around on my snowmobile! (You heard that right! Forty-one weeks…even though I was very active during my pregnancy, my son did not want to leave!) At 42 weeks, my son received the eviction notice from the doctor at the hospital and after thirty hours of labor and three solid hours of pushing, he finally got the hint!
I felt and still feel like I can do anything pregnant that I can do when I am not pregnant. It was everyone else around me that was hesitant. Yes, you are carrying a little more weight around, your ice fishing suit may be a little more snug–or not fit at all–you will have to pee a little more frequently, and let’s face it, you don’t want to be sitting down all day! I would like to share with you some tips that made my life a little easier ice fishing during my third trimester.
For starters, my women’s ice fishing suit didn’t fit at all. I would’ve needed to go up two sizes in the women’s bibs to accommodate my large belly. What worked better was just switching to my husband’s bibs. For some reason men’s bibs are a lot roomier and have more elastic around the belly area and were way more comfortable! Same goes for jackets. Men’s wear just seems to offer a little more room in the girth area than women’s. So instead of purchasing anything new, just raid the hubby’s, male friend or family member’s wardrobe. After all, you will only really need to upgrade sizes for 1-2 months!
As far as the bathroom issue…I am a very active outdoors woman and peeing outside has never really been something I have been bashful about. I know a lot of women struggle with the idea of it though. I suggest using a five gallon ice fishing pail with the seat right on it. HT Enterprises sells some really comfortable bucket seats and other bucket accessories that really come in handy! Using the bucket as a seat was way more comfortable for me than sitting in a bag chair. I could get up a lot faster and easier if needed to be. I could have all of my gear within reach around the bucket and if nature called…it was just a matter of opening the lid, making life so much simpler!
When I was 37 weeks pregnant I signed up for a local ice fishing tournament with some of my girlfriends. (They couldn’t believe I was still planning on fishing in this tournament). The day of the event I waddled down onto the lake and set us up on an area that looked like it had good structure. It must have been a good spot because it wasn’t too much later and we were surrounded! There were even tip-ups being placed by others between our tip-ups (the person who did that actually ended up winning several categories that day!).
Unfortunately we were positioned a ways from the judge’s tent, so every time I caught a fish worth registering I would have to waddle across the lake carrying it in a bucket. I was on the board for a while in the bluegill, crappie, and largemouth categories but ended up getting beat out in the end. Still, I was capable of doing everything I would have done if I wasn’t pregnant, except I definitely felt all the waddling around I did that day the next morning!
Speaking of which, good ice cleats are a must when ice fishing while pregnant. My doctor was most worried about me falling, and for good reason too! It is very easy to cause harm to the baby by falling so far along in the pregnancy. I was always very careful of this. My HT sure grip ice cleats never left my ice fishing boots that winter. If they did get taken off they would be back on my feet before I stepped foot out of the truck. My husband or whoever I was with always checked the ice conditions first.
Another item worth mentioning is to know the lakes your fish are coming from and check for advisories. I eat a lot of fish year round. I am also a natural resources professional and am well aware of the risks of mercury and other contaminants in the water and in the fish. Check with your local natural resources department on what the recommended fish consumption levels are for that particular water body for pregnant women and children. Avoid/limit intake of predator fish. Pan fish are generally safe, but it is still a good idea to learn more about that particular waterbody.
Finally, enjoy it! Pregnancy is only a short period of time in our lives but it doesn’t have to limit what we can and cannot do. Play it safe by learning about the water body and by always wearing ice cleats. Plan ahead for the million needed potty breaks and the uncomfortably long sits that could happen. Take lots of pictures and have plenty of laughs it is all good for both you and the baby—and another important step in introducing the next generation to the great outdoors!