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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » can a pregnant woman do a track event?

May 27, 2011 11:24 p.m. leegf New Reader

admittedly, this is a long shot but i can't think of a better place to ask this question than here: can pregnant women do track events? my wife and i are looking into doing an october driver school, but she may (or may not) be five months pregnant by then -- it's still too early to tell. does anyone have any experience with this? (either as a pregnant student, a driving instructor to a student who at the time was pregnant, a friend/spouse of a pregnant student -- etc. etc.)

any showstoppers notwithstanding, i think she and i would like to go ahead with this -- pregnant or not. thanks!
May 27, 2011 11:34 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

I would say no. Seat belt injuries on pregnant women can be very serious. I don't know if the clubs would have a problem, but I would if it was my wife and future kid. So would my wife. It just isn't worth the chance.
May 27, 2011 11:37 p.m. leegf New Reader

^ thank you.

in case it matters (maybe it doesn't), this will be her first event, and we are looking at a school where she will be in a first-timer only run group. so not driving at 10/10ths, 9/10ths -- or anywhere close. and with an instructor at all times (since i know this is not always a given with some clubs).
May 28, 2011 6:47 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

Send a PM to Dr. Hess (who is an actual medical doctor) but I expect he'll tell you what you've already heard.
May 28, 2011 6:53 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork

At 5 months do you really have to ask? Is this your first? By then there is a really good chance that the hormones will be kicking in and if you get to go anywhere car related you will be really lucky.
May 28, 2011 7:15 a.m. 1988RedT2 Dork

It's certainly a question for her doc. My wife played competitive softball carrying our second son and did fine. I have no doubt that the activity itself would be okay. It's the "what-ifs" that you need to consider.
May 28, 2011 7:23 a.m. leegf New Reader

In reply to dean1484:

no, not my first. i guess that's why there isn't that feeling of "walking on eggshells" for me.

am i the only one who thinks that hpde-1 (or more like hpde-0, truthfully) isn't that big of a deal? this isn't wheel-to-wheel racing. we're talking about a fairly controlled environment here, arguably safer (even much safer) than driving on the street. it's not like she's going to stop driving altogether.

in any case, i appreciate and value the input -- this is precisely why i had wanted to ask.
May 28, 2011 8:39 a.m. Tom Suddard SonDork

Some idiot stuffed his Miata into a wall during the TOURING LAPS at the Mitty.

Never underestimate the stupidity of novice drivers during they're first time on track. I'm not saying your wife will wreck, but there's a good chance someone else will. I wouldn't want to take the chance that she (they?) could get caught up in it.
May 28, 2011 8:54 a.m. curtis73 Dork

leegf wrote:

can pregnant women do track events?

sure... if you let her out of the kitchen.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I don't have any background with pregnancy, but I do know that these days legality and common sense don't go hand-in-hand. Its one of those things where "I'm sure its fine - what are the chances..." kinda thing, but there is always that chance. I'm thinking about legal rights IF something were to happen. I know the point is not to LET anything happen, but there is the added insult of probably not having any legal support if something does.

My cousin got pregnant while she worked at a Nuclear Power Plant. She almost lost the baby when she fell waterskiing. You might work with explosives for 30 years, then get hit by a bus on the way home.

Which reminds me of another joke... My wife asked for a watch for Christmas. I said, "why? There's a clock on the stove"
May 28, 2011 9:48 a.m. paul Reader

Search for HPDE close-call/accident clips on the net... don't take the risk of someone else doing something stupid

one of many examples (nsfw audio): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1RohRau9Hg&NR=1

or, what if someone leaks oil/antifreeze onto the track, your wife may not encounter it, but someone passing her might, who knows! Just too many risks/variables...
May 28, 2011 10:44 a.m. iceracer Dork

It is entirely up to your wife, do not try to encourage her. Have her consult with her doctor and then let HER decide. She is the one carrying your child, not you.
May 28, 2011 11:15 a.m. unevolved Dork

Tom Suddard wrote:

Never underestimate the stupidity of novice drivers during they're first time on track. I'm not saying your wife will wreck, but there's a good chance someone else will. I wouldn't want to take the chance that she (they?) could get caught up in it.

Agreed. It's frightening how many incidents can occur in green run groups.

There are very few times I would lay down the law to my S.O., but this would be one of them. The risk is too high for such a marginal benefit.
May 28, 2011 11:27 a.m. NOHOME Reader

Let your wife make the call. Don't second guess. Odds are in your favour that all will be fine.

Truth is, if she is going to drive to the event, she is exposed to the same risk or worse during the drive there and back.
May 28, 2011 1:57 p.m. shadetree30 Reader

FWIW, Sarah Fisher passed up driving at Indianapolis this year because she is preggers. Don't know how far along, tho'...

Also FWIW, she's a car owner as well...
May 28, 2011 2:42 p.m. steamcorners Reader

I remember reading in GRM years back about a autocrosser, who while pregnant, won her class at Solo Nats. No, not a track day, but it might not be too bad...that said, I'd probably suggest not, for the reasons stated above.
May 28, 2011 3:39 p.m. plance1 Dork

Ur kidding right?
May 28, 2011 4:07 p.m. leegf New Reader

plance1 wrote:

Ur kidding right?

no, i'm not, and precisely for this reason:

NOHOME wrote:

Truth is, if she is going to drive to the event, she is exposed to the same risk or worse during the drive there and back.

yet, you don't hear anyone saying pregnant women shouldn't drive on the street.

but i get that decision-making isn't always rational. it's why i wouldn't try to talk someone with a fear of flying out of driving to a destination (as opposed to flying), although driving is statistically more dangerous.

we'll probably be sitting this one out. thank you all for your input.
May 28, 2011 8:52 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

I went to an autocross a few years ago where a woman who was 7 or 8 months pregnant driving a 1G MR2, she couldn't fit in her Mustang anymore.

That said, not sure it's something I'd be happy with my wife doing while pregnant.
May 28, 2011 9:34 p.m. speedbiu New Reader

I'm a retired Paramedic and I would in no way let her do it I'm all for chances and fun but I'll be the devils advocate.IF something did happen theres a chance of the placenta( which is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply )IF this tears away from the uterus she will bleed to death.Please research this on the web under" MVA trama pregnant " .Theres more events and only one wife.IMOA.
May 28, 2011 10:00 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

iceracer wrote:

It is entirely up to your wife, do not try to encourage her. Have her consult with her doctor and then let HER decide. She is the one carrying your child, not you.

That's crap.

There are 3 people involved, not 1.

It is enormously important for men to step up and be involved in decisions like this, and all other family raising decisions.
May 29, 2011 12:11 a.m. unevolved Dork

speedbiu wrote: There's more events and only one wife.

/thread.
May 29, 2011 8:52 a.m. Schmidlap HalfDork

Who is organizing the track day/driver school? Talk to them to see if their insurance will cover a pregnant woman on the track. Somehow I really doubt it will, so she probably won't be able to regardless of what you decide.

I really don't think it will matter though, because as soon as you find out for sure that she's pregnant, I'm betting your outlook will change dramatically and you will quickly decide not to do it.

Bob
May 29, 2011 8:23 p.m. plance1 Dork

leegf wrote:

plance1 wrote:

Ur kidding right?

no, i'm not, and precisely for this reason:

NOHOME wrote:

Truth is, if she is going to drive to the event, she is exposed to the same risk or worse during the drive there and back.

yet, you don't hear anyone saying pregnant women shouldn't drive on the street.

but i get that decision-making isn't always rational. it's why i wouldn't try to talk someone with a fear of flying out of driving to a destination (as opposed to flying), although driving is statistically more dangerous.

we'll probably be sitting this one out. thank you all for your input.

and the difference is driving to and from work, the store, etc, is necessary whereas a track event is strictly a recreational activity that can wait. Nothing irrational about it. Glad to see you made the right call.

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