swimming with dolphins while pregnant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm...reviving a two-year old thread, all caps, "tilapathy"...I think there is something fishy going on.

Dolphins are not fish. They're mammals.

[Anonymous]

I live in Cozumel Island were we have two delphinariums and my OB actually recommended that I swim with dolphins because they make humans produce an endorphin that is called "the happy endorphin" which stimulates the baby, I did it with my first two pregnancies and right now I am on my third at 26 weeks and will be swimming with these amazing creatures once again.
P.S. Dolphins can detect there is a tiny human in there because they communicate using ultrasound, the coolest thing is that the female swim around you in a circle as if to protect you !!!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it sounds like an old wive's tale, urban myth, or whatever. I can't imagine why a dolphin would care one way or the other if you're pregnant or fat or have gallstones or anything else for that matter.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Ooops, didn't notice that (a) this was a post from a zillion years ago and (b) it had already evolved into so, so much more.

Happy dolphin swimming, everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks feel the need to judge OP. Perhaps she reported back so that others could take her experience into account if they were facing the same decision. She made a personal choice and it turned out well for her. I think that's great.

Totally agree with this. One of my DH's coworkers used to boast to me all the time that she played rugby and competitive soccer up until the 3rd trimester when she was pregnant. WTF? Who does that? I mean I am definitely not a person who thinks a pregnant woman is a delicate flower who can't do anything. I work my ass off at work, I workout, I do my fair share of housework, play actively with my toddler. But, contact sports when pregnant? Or not being able to abstain during the pregnancy from foods that can harm the baby? Or anything else that can be harmful. It all just seems like maybe you're not ready to be a parent if you can't make such simple sacrifices for 9 months out of your life. Like another PP said, there are a lot bigger sacrifices after you've given birth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Goodness, no doubt it's her first child. But I was the same as her when I was pregnant the first time, I don't think you fully realize how amazing your baby is until you meet him or her. We all had to learn in our own time.

exactly why I said I am sure it is her first baby, if not, she would know what she has to loose, You can not know that feeling until you have held your baby.

You two should be ashamed of yourselves. God help your children with judgemental mothers like you. I wonder if you'd post the same if you had to use your real name or tell the OP this to her face. I doubt it. Spineless. I am embarrassed for you.

For the record, my name is Elaine and I live in DC.

[Anonymous]

Well I for one, feel a new-found sense of empowerment and adventurism after reading this post. I will be signing up for naked skydiving for next weekend. i'm sure my 13 week fetus will enjoy it almost as much as i will.

[Anonymous]

I swam with dolphins while pregnant -- inadvertently. It was in the wild, in Hawaii, and they came right up to us and swam underneath us a couple of times. It was an amazing experience and I have always wondered whether they could "detect" the pregnancy. My now 5-year-old child loves to hear about it!

[Anonymous]

My name is OP and I am a repeat offender.

Seriously, this is the OP! I can't believe this thread is up again but I'm happy to chime in. I asked this question in 2008 while pregnant with my first. I also swam with dolphins in 2010 while pregnant with my second. It went well both times. If I'm lucky, I'll swim with dolphins again before I give birth to my third, hopefully sometime in 2012.

Happy aquatic mammalling to all.

[Anonymous]

Im going to Jamiaca in a weeks time and im 15 weeks pregnant, I really want to swim with the dolphins as its been a life long wish.
After reading this (very) long thread, I think I will do it. My partner will be with me every second of it and if he thinks im in danger, he can always stand in front of my little bump.
I really think the reason companies say no to pregant ladies is because so many people sue. Not because of the risk.
I have searched and searched and searched for an attack on a pregnant lady, and found NONE!??!?

[Anonymous]

The only thing I found of relevance when I searched for more info was a thread on a diver's message board about snorkeling with dolphins. Many people posted that the dolphins were more interested in pregnant women but it was a nice interest, not an aggressive one. I found this to be fairly credible since it was a board of people who have lots of experience around marine life vs. posts that said dolphins have x-ray vision and can see the baby inside you and want to kill it (seriously that's out there). It sounds like you just need to be aware of how the dolphins are acting and if it seems too playful, you'll need to get out. But that's if you can find a company to let you do it on their watch. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

When I was aI think 8 weeks pregnant I went snorkeling with sharks. It was pretty awesome and it was something I am not going to have a chance to do again, so I did it. The sharks just kinda chilled at the bottom of the ocean while we swam above. The company had no problem with me going, but they did advise not swimming with dolphins because their sonar can sense the pregnancy and they dont like it, and they will try to bump at your belly...
Im sure people would disagree with some of the things I have done but overall I think I am very careful. It is terrible to imply that bc OP made this decision or because it was her first pregnancy, she doesn't care about her child. I am pregnant with my first and I love him more than you could imagine and just because I made a choice you wouldnt have doesn't mean I love him any less.

[Anonymous]

I found this thread because I am going to Hawaii next week and my mom brought up the topic of swimming with dolphins. But, when we looked into it, it seems that many companies prohibit it without saying why. The reason I am commenting is because I am shocked at what people will see with the anonymity of the internet and the level of ridiculous precautions people believe you need to take while pregnant.

I probably would not have thought of swimming with dolphins while pregnant the first time (truthfully, the opportunity never presented itself). But, now that I am going through this a second time, I am much better able to distinguish what is a real threat to my pregnancy versus what is some ridiculous, hyped-up hypothetical. I would never do anything to jeopardize my baby. But, I am a smart, critically thinking woman who refuses to be governed by fear and judgmental people who have failed to do any actual research on the topics they decide to pontificate on.

[Anonymous]

I am on vacation right now in the Caribbean, and another pregnant woman tried to go on one of these excursions, but the tour company wouldn't let her. Personally, I found this terribly paternalistic, but not much to do about it. If you are visibly pregnant, you might not have a choice. But if you aren't showing yet, then of course you have to make this decision.

[Anonymous]

Dolphins are dirty creatures that gang rape and kill their own. They've also been known to attack humans in the water. If your stupid enough to take a risk with your unborn child's life to swim with a wild animal because of some childhood fantasy then you have some serious parental issues and probably shouldn't be having kids.