So, there I was, staring at that positive test. First thought, obviously, joy, a bit of panic, the usual. But then, pretty quickly, my mind went to golf. Seriously. I live and breathe the game, or at least I did before all this.
I remember immediately thinking, “Can I even swing a club anymore?” I wasn’t showing, of course, but everything suddenly felt… fragile. My regular Saturday game with the pals, was that over? I actually Googled it, “golf while pregnant,” like a nutter. The internet, what a place. Some said yes, some said no, classic stuff.
I decided to have a word with my doctor. She was pretty chill, actually. Said as long as I felt up to it and wasn’t doing anything crazy, a bit of moderate exercise was good. “Listen to your body,” she said. Easier said than done, right?
Figuring it out – The Early Swings
So, I gave it a shot. First trimester was a strange one. I wasn’t big, but I was SO knackered. Like, could fall asleep standing up tired. And the morning sickness, oh boy. I remember one round, around week 8, I reckon. I barely made it through nine holes. My swing felt… off. Like my balance was already shifting, even though there was no real bump yet. I just felt clumsy.
- Energy levels: Totally all over the place. Some days okay, others, just wanted to kip on the fairway.
- Swing changes: Started to slow things right down. My usual aggressive swing? Nope. Had to be more gentle with it.
- Reactions: My golf mates were… a mixed bag. Some super supportive, others looked at me like I was made of china. One even offered to carry my bag the whole round, which was sweet but a bit much. I always use a cart anyway!
Getting into a new groove
Then came the second trimester. Everyone bangs on about the glow. I mostly just felt less sick, which was a massive win. And I got a bit of energy back. This was probably my best patch for golf, relatively speaking. I had a small bump, but it wasn’t huge yet.
I had to make some adjustments, for sure. My stance got wider. Had to. There was this new thing in the way, you know? And I definitely wasn’t hitting it as far. My ego took a bit of a knock there, not gonna lie. Used to outdrive some of the blokes, and now… well, let’s just say I was playing from the forward tees with pride.
I remember one day, I actually played pretty decently. Shot an 85. For me, at that point, it felt like winning a major. My back started to get a bit achy if I played a full 18, so I often stuck to 9 holes. Or I’d just ride along in the buggy for the back 9 if I was feeling it.
The daftest part was clothes. My usual golf skirts? Forget about ’em. Lived in stretchy trousers. Looked a bit odd, maybe, but comfort was everything.
The Bump Takes Over
Third trimester. Okay, this is where things got… proper. The bump was no longer just a little bump; it was a serious obstruction. My swing? What swing? It felt more like a gentle push. I couldn’t rotate properly. My balance was totally gone. I think I played maybe three or four times, very early in the third trimester.
Honestly, it was more for the company and the fresh air than the actual golf. I’d hit a few shots, mostly terribly, and then just enjoy the walk (or ride). Bending down to tee up the ball or pick it out of the hole became a proper mission. My friends were absolute stars, helping me out.
There was this one time, I was trying to get out of a bunker. Took me like three goes. Not because of the sand, but because I just couldn’t get the right angle with my belly in the way. I nearly toppled over. We all just burst out laughing. It was just silly.
Eventually, I just had to pack it in. It wasn’t fun anymore, and it was getting too uncomfortable. I think I officially hung up my clubs around 32 weeks. My doctor was probably relieved, though she never said it. My back was definitely telling me it was time to stop.
Looking Back at it
So, yeah, that was my golf journey through pregnancy. It was… an adventure. I learned a lot about my body, that’s for sure. And about patience. Golf teaches you patience anyway, but this was a whole new level of it.
I guess the biggest thing was just listening to what my body was telling me. When it said “no more,” I listened. I missed playing properly, really did. But it wasn’t worth pushing myself. There were other, much bigger things to focus on, clearly!
I didn’t break any course records, that’s for certain. But I kept a little bit of myself, a bit of my routine, going for as long as I could. And getting out in the fresh air, even just for a few holes, did wonders for my mood, especially when everything else felt like it was changing so darn fast. Now, getting back into it after the baby… well, that’s a whole other kettle of fish I’ll have to share sometime!
