Pregnant woman in wetsuit carrying a longboard over her shoulder, walking away from the ocean by Lou Lou B Photo.

TLDR: Banging photo. Not the reality for most. You got this. Respect to the Mamas still doing all the things.

I wish I could say that surfing while pregnant was easy and magical, but the truth is, it's not like how it looks in the photos. When I took this photo of my friend Jamie surfing while 8 months pregnant, I was beginning to explore what it might be like for me to be pregnant and still be able to surf. I had questions like:

"Would I still be able to surf?"
"How does a bump really feel?"
"Surely I can surf until I'm 9 months pregnant (surely?!)"

The idea of the female body in one of the most beautiful natural processes a female body can navigate through became my muse for quite some time throughout the lockdown days of 2020. I longed to photograph a pregnant Mama out in the ocean. It became my vision because I started seeing myself as wanting to transition through that very process. I was curious. And as per usual, my curiosities led to an exploration through the lens.

Four months after the initial vision, we found the right time to make this shoot happen.

Can you surf while pregnant? This water maternity photoshoot explores the answer

Doing this in-water (intended to be a pregnancy surfing photoshoot) I literally had ZERO experience to draw from as I directed Jamie. It was still entirely led by Jamie's comfort levels of course. But I had no idea what I was really asking from her.

Now, unless a Mama comes to me and says "I'm doing amazing and I want you to photograph me surfing while I'm 8 months pregnant" I would not dream to ask of it or expect that just because they surf, they have the ability to do so while pregnant.

Pregnant surfer emerges from the ocean at sunset, water droplets glistening on her wetsuit. She runs her hands through her hair, surrounded by a pink sky and blue water. Photograph by Lou Lou B Photo.

Why? Because the reality is that a lot of women are uncomfortable (foot curled round ya rib anyone?). I could barely carry my laptop from the car to the office, let alone a longboard into the ocean (not to mention walking on sand or trying to get on said longboard!)

It's not easy growing a human. No one says it is. But no one says how f*cking hard it is too.

So there. I've said it. If you think it's hard too, then I hear you, I see you and f*ck knows I feel you. You are not alone.

My experience surfing while pregnant

When I was pregnant, I had a tough time. I was in chronic pain most of my pregnancy and had to modify my surfing technique significantly. While I initially thought I could surf until I was 9 months pregnant, the reality was much different.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I was excited to continue surfing and taking photos in the ocean. However, morning sickness took me by surprise and made it difficult for me to even walk to the beach. Even once the morning sickness subsided, spending time in the ocean caused me to experience motion sickness.

At around 15 weeks, I began to feel like I had a tennis ball in my abdomen, which made lying on my board uncomfortable. I tried adjusting my technique by pushing up onto my knees, but this ended up hurting my neck. Paddling out on my knees also proved to be a challenge for me. During my last attempt to surf while 24 weeks pregnant, I didn't catch any waves and began to feel anxious about the safety of my unborn baby. This led me to make the tough decision to hang up my longboard for the time being.

Instead of surfing, I found solace in swimming in the ocean, but eventually became anxious about the potential risk of sharks. As a result, I started to look for more grounding activities like yoga and exploring the forest.

12 polaroids documenting pregnancy journey - includes photos of growing belly, ultrasound, and beach scenes. — At 18 weeks, I started taking a polaroid photo at the beach every 2 weeks. The 11th photo was supposed to be my 40 week due date photo… but instead I had my beautiful newborn baby snuggled into my chest. And the last photo shows my gorgeous little girl at 5 months old.

I don't regret all the waves I missed, or how disconnected I've become from that free-spirited surfer girl I once was. Although I was very much so in a grieving process at the time, I've moved on now (thanks to a LOT of therapy) and I’m exploring the ocean and surf again with an entirely new lens as a mother.

Here are some tips and advice for other women who may be considering surfing while pregnant:

Listen to your body: Your body will tell you when you need to slow down or stop. Don't push yourself too hard, and be willing to modify your approach to surfing as your pregnancy progresses.
Find a supportive community: Surround yourself with people who understand what you're going through and can offer advice and support. Look for groups or communities online or in person that are focused on surfing and pregnancy.
Modify your technique: Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you may need to modify your technique significantly. For example, you may need to paddle with your arms instead of your legs or avoid certain types of waves.

The TLDR

I love this photo of Jamie and her beautiful pregnant belly with her board. BUT I don’t want this to be the kind of photo that makes someone going it tough feel like they aren’t enough. And to the Mamas out there still shredding while pregnant? RESPECT because I don’t know how you do it!