Rock Concerts During Pregnancy
If you live and breathe music, you don’t have to give up your love affair just because you’re pregnant. In most cases, enjoying the occasional rock concert while with child is perfectly safe. However, your condition does present an array of issues that you must consider to ensure that your concert-going experience is a pleasurable and safe one for you and your developing fetus.
Potential Noise Impact
Excessively loud noises can have an impact on an unborn baby, reports a “Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics” study. Researchers who conducted this study gathered information about pregnant women who worked in cacophonous factories and found that these pregnant women were at risk of giving birth to children with hearing problems and other health issues. While this study predominantly proved that ongoing exposure to loud noise is a problem, it also found that short-term loud noises, those above 80dB, could have an impact fetal development as well. When you attend your concert event, make sure you aren’t too close to the action. By staying a bit back from the performer and speakers, you can still enjoy the music without exposing you and your growing baby to ear-damaging noise.
Steer Clear of the Action
Activities that you enjoyed doing at a rock concert before you were pregnant, like bouncing around in close proximity to other fans, may not be a good idea now that you are pregnant. Pregnant women should avoid large crowds of people, as you run the risk of being bumped into or taking a tumble. When you order your tickets, choose seats rather than general admission shows, so you won’t have to fight through throngs of fans or stand throughout the show.
Secondhand Smoke Concerns
Depending on the venue where your concert is being held, secondhand smoke could prove to be an issue. If your concert is in a smoky bar or outdoor venue that allows smoking, consider the impact that proximity to secondhand smoke could have on your developing baby and select a safer location. As the March of Dimes reports, pregnant women who breathe in large amounts of secondhand smoke are at greater risk of giving birth to a child with a low birthweight. Additionally, if you are in the early stages of your pregnancy, exposure to smoke could leave you feeling queasy. Avoid smoking areas while at the concert to limit the effects of secondhand smoke.
Time on Your Feet
When you head to a concert, you may end up spending a considerable amount of time on your feet. If your doctor has placed you on restrictions, or you find it challenging to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time, consider options. Preview the venue and determine how far you will have to walk from the car. Choose reserved seats if possible. In general admission shows, look for ample space to sit while viewing the band. If you feel that the experience will be too physically taxing, consider not attending the concert.
To Go or Not to Go?
To determine whether you are fit for rocking out while pregnant, first get your doctor’s approval. Once you’ve secured that, listen to your intuition. You likely know whether you feel up to the challenge of attending an event of this nature. If you feel that you will be able to handle the event, don’t hesitate to go, but if you worry that it will be too much, stay at home and rock out to some MP3s instead.
