Active women often wonder if they can safely continue playing soccer after becoming pregnant. While maintaining an active lifestyle is strongly encouraged for both maternal and fetal health, high-impact and collision sports like soccer present unique concerns that must be addressed. The general consensus advises extreme caution, with a progressive need to modify or cease participation as the pregnancy advances. Any decision to continue playing soccer should be made only after a thorough consultation with a healthcare provider, who can assess individual risk factors and pregnancy progression. The inherent physical demands and external risks of the game require a medically grounded approach to ensure safety.
Understanding the Specific Risks of Soccer
Soccer carries distinct external risks that contrast sharply with low-impact forms of exercise. The most significant danger is the potential for direct abdominal trauma, which can occur from a forceful collision with another player, an accidental kick to the midsection, or a tackle. Injuries of this nature risk placental abruption, where the placenta separates prematurely from the uterine wall, which can be life-threatening to the fetus.
The fast-paced, unpredictable nature of the game also increases the likelihood of a fall. Sudden changes in direction, uneven turf, or contact with opponents contribute to an elevated risk of losing balance. A fall, especially onto the abdomen, poses a direct threat to the pregnancy, a risk that non-contact sports do not carry. Professional medical organizations often list soccer as a sport that should be avoided during pregnancy.
The intensity of competitive play significantly magnifies these risks compared to casual, controlled drills. In a match setting, forceful challenges and unexpected contact are unavoidable elements of the game. Even activities like heading the ball, which involves rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck, may contribute to a momentary loss of equilibrium. Continued full participation in soccer is therefore a serious medical consideration.
How Pregnancy Changes Physical Performance
Internal, physiological changes within the mother make playing soccer progressively more challenging and physically risky. One of the most significant changes is the shift in the body’s center of gravity, which moves upward and forward due to the expanding uterus. This alteration directly impairs balance and coordination, increasing the likelihood of a fall during quick movements or changes in direction.
The body also produces the hormone Relaxin, which acts to loosen ligaments and joints throughout the body, particularly in the pelvis, to prepare for childbirth. This hormonal action results in increased joint laxity, making the knees and ankles—common injury sites in soccer—more vulnerable to sprains and strains. Increased blood volume during pregnancy, called hemodilution, reduces the concentration of red blood cells relative to plasma, decreasing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. This contributes to increased cardiovascular strain and fatigue, making high-intensity running more difficult.
Thermoregulation also becomes more challenging, as a pregnant person’s core body temperature is naturally slightly elevated. Strenuous exercise, particularly in warm weather, can raise the internal temperature further. Extended hyperthermia, especially in the first trimester, has been linked to potential risks for the developing fetus. These internal changes combine to reduce athletic performance and amplify the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
Guidelines for Continued Participation
Maintaining fitness is highly beneficial, and guidelines for continued activity change with each trimester. During the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), the fetus is protected deep within the bony pelvis, and exercise can generally continue. The focus is often on managing common symptoms like fatigue and nausea while maintaining fitness. Some healthcare providers recommend immediately stopping competitive matches to avoid collision risk.
The second trimester, beginning around week 13, marks the most significant point of concern for contact sports. Between 14 and 20 weeks, the uterus expands beyond the protective confines of the pelvis, making the abdomen directly vulnerable to external trauma. Medical guidance strongly recommends ceasing all contact and collision sports, including soccer, once the uterus is palpable above the pubic bone. Participation should shift entirely to non-contact drills, such as passing and shooting practice, with significantly reduced intensity.
By the third trimester, strict cessation of any soccer-related activity is necessary due to the size of the abdomen and the increased risk of falls and impact injury. The physical focus must transition to low-impact alternatives that support the body, such as swimming or walking. Throughout all stages, activity modification, such as avoiding exercise while lying flat on the back after 16 weeks, is necessary to prevent the weight of the uterus from compressing major blood vessels.
Immediate Warning Signs for Stopping Activity
It is imperative to immediately stop all activity and contact a healthcare provider if any acute warning signs occur during or after exercise.
- Vaginal bleeding or any leakage of fluid from the vagina.
- Sudden, persistent abdominal or chest pain.
- Painful, regular contractions.
- Feeling dizzy, faint, or experiencing unusual shortness of breath.
- Severe or persistent headache, calf pain, or swelling, which could indicate a blood clot.
Listening to the body is paramount, and these acute signs require prompt professional evaluation.