Surfing When Pregnant - The Reality, Challenges And Excitement.

Surfing is a way of life for many, offering freedom, connection with nature, and a sense of adventure.

But what happens when life changes in unexpected ways—like pregnancy? We sat down with Mollie, a cornish surfer, to talk about her experiences navigating the waves while navigating motherhood-to-be.

From the challenges she faced to the unexpected joys, she shared her truths about keeping her passion alive during pregnancy. Whether you’re a surfer yourself or simply curious, her story is both honest and inspiring.

Here is what Mollie wanted to share. 

Surfing and pregnancy... not quite the romance I'd imagined.

Three months deep and full of morning sickness, I found myself googling 'How long is it safe to surf?'.

I was hit with a barrage of opinions and no concrete medical advice. It was a confusing enough time without also feeling anxious about how long I could enjoy being in the sea.
The problem was, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I felt anxious and also a bit guilty after each surf. This feeling was the biggest challenge. The one place I felt as though I could get some space from everyday life and have a bit of fun suddenly changed.
I felt a weight of responsibility already. I didn't expect to feel this way so early on in the pregnancy, and I tried to push past it, forcing myself to enjoy surfing, thinking, 'You don't have much time left to enjoy this; make the most of it.'

These thoughts added a whole other pressure to my time in the water. I felt easily frustrated, as though time was running out. The combination of the sickness and the fact I was struggling to do a lot of my usual fitness didn't help. I felt a bit lost, which I'd often heard women struggling with after they'd had a baby but hadn't realised could also happen whilst you were pregnant.

A couple of surfer mums reached out to talk to me, and I realised I wasn't alone in these feelings. Those conversations really helped and gave me the confidence to tell my wonderful group of surf girls that I was pregnant. Once I started to tell people the news, I felt safer in the water as my community of girls were more aware and considerate. I don't know why I didn't tell people sooner, but being the first in my friendship group to start a family was also hard.

Something I also struggled with was how I couldn't avoid my changing body in a wetsuit and how it would soon be evident to even those I didn't want to share my news with! Although it took a while for me to show, I immediately couldn't fit comfortably in my usual wettie. I felt bloated constantly, and I decided the best thing to do was treat myself to a new suit a couple of sizes bigger than usual to see myself through the summer. It was a good shout and has grown with me, although it is getting a little tight now!

I carried on organising meet-ups with the girls when I could. Although I trusted my ability, I felt wary of others, especially as the summer crowds swelled in Cornwall. Picking my surf spots wisely and avoiding the Surfline 'good' days at my usual fave (but busy) spots helped.

I also carried on surf lifesaving with my local club. Being one of the younger ladies there, many women I chatted with already had families and were knowledgeable and encouraging. Some of the women in the club were pretty dedicated athletes who had trained through pregnancy, but most agreed and advised me (from their own experiences) to stop board sports at around 20 weeks.

One woman said, 'I trained and surfed usually until that halfway point. Once I had the 20-week scan and everything had developed safely, I thought to myself, I've had my fun, and now I am ready to let the little one grow.' I found this advice helpful, and I used it as a bit of a goal, as getting to halfway/through five months and still surfing felt like a realistic timeline for me.

I convinced my partner to book a week in France as a final surf trip just before I reached the 20-week mark. It was June, so we weren't expecting much swell-wise but we ended up having three fun days in Lacanu, with clean conditions and lots of post-surf-croissants. It was busy in the water, and I caught a few fun waves but decided to leave it there with my cup full.

Many women continue surfing longer through their pregnancies, and the advice seems to be to do what you feel comfortable with.

I think I expected my belly to move out of the way a bit more as it grew, and I started to find it tricky on a shortboard, so I switched to longboarding for a few weeks before tapping out for a while. I am still doing a bit of knee-paddling on the rescue board, but I decided the short boards could now wait for my comeback.

This decision felt like a relief, and I started to swim more and learning to enjoy the sea in a different, less pressured or perfect way. I think I had forgotten the ability to play and not compete with myself or others in the water. I invested in some (yes, pretty) and also practical swim fins from my local surf store and have yet to look back. I love getting in, swimming around with my GoPro, and getting videos of the girls at the club. I think it is important to still be involved in your sporting communities, even in a less active way!

I have also continued going to my local gym (shout out to Kernow Strength and Conditioning). Adam runs the gym and has been supportive and often checks in on me during classes. It has been another supportive community for staying fit and healthy during pregnancy.

I have no doubt that when the September swells arrive, I will get a bit touchy, but the other piece of advice that sticks in my mind is, 'This is temporary'. I think it is important to remember that things will undoubtedly change, but I will be back surfing soon.

So, for now, the little one and I will keep getting used to the sea together, slowing down and feeling thankful to live somewhere so beautiful whilst pregnant with so much outdoor space - many aren't as fortunate. Although it is my ultimate pastime, surfing can be a selfish sport, and sometimes focusing on enjoyment rather than wavecount can be just as satisfying!