Go-Karting While Pregnant? Here’s What You Need to Know

Let’s start off with a quick disclaimer. I’m not a doctor, a Medical Ph.D., or a gynecologist. Everything I’ve written below is not a medical evaluation, and you should always consult your doctors before doing any activity while you’re pregnant.

That said, go-karting is a sport for everyone. While it has historically been dominated by men, it’s become more accessible to all genders and ages nowadays. Basically, as long as you’re willing to learn, you’ll be able to drive a go-kart no matter who you are. 

But, what about go-karting while you’re pregnant. Well, if you’re pregnant, you might be able to take a go-kart for a spin. You’ll have to be at a very early stage to do so, and you’re still putting yourself and your baby at risk.

In my opinion, you shouldn’t ride a go-kart while you’re pregnant. Even though it’s generally a safe sport, go-karting can get dangerous in some instances, especially when you race against other drivers. And, even if you’re alone on the track, you still run the risk of crashing and getting seriously hurt.

So, it’s worth mentioning why go-karts can be very dangerous during pregnancy and what stage is too late for you to drive a go-kart.

Why Go-Karts Can Be Dangerous While You’re Pregnant

Go-karting can be dangerous for pretty much everyone. If you don’t follow the track’s rules or have a few reckless drivers against you, you’re constantly at risk of a crash or an injury. So, once you add pregnancy into the equation, the risks become much higher. But, let’s focus on specific reasons of why go-karts are dangerous when you’re pregnant.

Crashes Are Very Common

While go-karts aren’t bumper cars, collisions between two karts happen regularly during a race or a hot lap. Even I have bumped into some of my opponents because you can’t always focus on the other drivers while you’re pushing for the fastest lap. Thankfully, I’ve not been in a big crash with anyone. 

Also, whenever you try to overtake someone, you’ll surely bump each other. The karts are pretty bulky, so collisions during overtaking are very common. And, even if you’re going slower than the rest of the field, the other drivers might not know that you’re pregnant and thus overtake you aggressively.

Go-Karts Have No Suspension

Due to their design, most go-karts have no suspension so that they remain lightweight and speedy. No suspension will make the ride very bumpy, especially if the track’s asphalt isn’t even. 

That said, there are off-road go-karts that you could drive which have suspensions. But, I wouldn’t dare ride one unless I take a few classes first. So, I wouldn’t advise you to ride one of those during your pregnancy.

Your Go-Kart Might Flip

Even though it’s very rare, go-karts can flip, which would lead you to get thrown out of the kart. You could also get flung out of the kart if you hit the barriers at high speeds. While most rental go-karts have a harness or seat belts, many choose not to use them. Plus, even if you put on your seat belt, you could really damage your baby if you get in a big crash.

Karting Can Be Uncomfortable

Unlike cars and other machines used in motorsports, karts are very simple. I have to admit that the seats on a kart are very uncomfortable, especially after a full race. But that’s not the main reason why karts are uncomfortable.

You see, no matter how slow you’re going, you’ll end up experiencing some g-forces when you accelerate, brake, and turn. I remember that after my first time karting, my ribs hurt a lot. So, that’s an immediate red flag for anyone who’s pregnant.

Engine Fumes Can Be Toxic for Your Baby

The engines that go-karts use mix engine oil with the fuel. The fumes that come out after the combustion are harmful to your baby. I’ve always heard people saying to not smoke during pregnancy, and the engine fumes could actually be more toxic.

And, even though you’ll be wearing a helmet and a balaclava, the engine will be close to your seat, along with the exhaust. So, if you’re going slow, you’ll be inhaling most of the fumes.

When Should You Not Drive Go-Karts During Your Pregnancy

There are a few key points of your pregnancy when you should avoid go-karting no matter what. The main timestamp is when the baby bump becomes more visible, which happens after the third month. So, you shouldn’t drive go-karts after the first trimester of the pregnancy.

Also, if you’re a newbie to karting, I’d suggest you not start out while you’re pregnant. There are many things that one has to learn to be a safe karting driver, even if they’re only driving rental karts once a week. You’ll only be putting yourself and your baby at risk by karting for the first time while you’re pregnant.

Lastly, you should never rent out a kart if you have any hesitations. Go-karting is fun; the adrenaline is amazing, but don’t ride a go-kart if you feel that you might get injured or hurt your baby. Thankfully, karting is here to stay, so you’ll have many more chances of racing against others after you give birth.

Conclusion

Go-karting while you’re pregnant is a very controversial topic. Most people would say that it’s okay for someone who’s pregnant to take a go-kart for a spin, but the dangers are a lot. I’d say that if you have any hesitations, you shouldn’t go.

But, once again, I’m far from a doctor or a medical Ph.D. of any sort. You’ll have to consult your doctor before you decide whether you’ll go (or not go) karting.

Stay tuned for more articles just like this one!
If you have any more questions that you’d like me to answer, be sure to contact me or leave a comment below.