pregnancy and pool "dives"/training
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As this is a diving medicine question rather than directly related to the scientific aspects of decompression, I have taken the liberty of moving it to this forum. Dr. Deco will still see it.
"pool dives/pool training" during pregnancy theoretically pose less risk than dives that are deeper & longer, but the fact is we simply do not know what the level of risk may be.
However, one can be pretty certain that it is more than zero. For example, research on nondiving situations suggests an alarming mortality rate for the mother & fetus in the face of arterial gas embolism (AGE), and AGE can occur in very shallow water. As you may remember from your classroom training on Boyle's Law, maximal changes in the volume of air in the lungs occur in the first 4 feet of water.
The very safest dive plan is no diving whatsoever.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
"pool dives/pool training" during pregnancy theoretically pose less risk than dives that are deeper & longer, but the fact is we simply do not know what the level of risk may be.
However, one can be pretty certain that it is more than zero. For example, research on nondiving situations suggests an alarming mortality rate for the mother & fetus in the face of arterial gas embolism (AGE), and AGE can occur in very shallow water. As you may remember from your classroom training on Boyle's Law, maximal changes in the volume of air in the lungs occur in the first 4 feet of water.
The very safest dive plan is no diving whatsoever.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
SSIdiver02
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I would listen to him, he is very knowledgeable and is right. The risk posed to your unborn baby is to great to chance. You can wait 9 mos. to dive. If you stil feel you must dive soon, see a doctor.
Dr Deco
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Dear marycait:
You cannot really get into a problem from dissolved nitrogen on a dive in a pool. That said, breath hold mishaps are another question. Arterial gas embolism is a very real possibility. There have been incidents at NASA in the Neutral Buoyancy Training Facility where everything is watched very closely.
Dr Deco:doctor:
You cannot really get into a problem from dissolved nitrogen on a dive in a pool. That said, breath hold mishaps are another question. Arterial gas embolism is a very real possibility. There have been incidents at NASA in the Neutral Buoyancy Training Facility where everything is watched very closely.
Dr Deco:doctor:
Dr Deco
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Dear Readers:
Another Shallow Water Gas Embolism
Below is an abstract of a case of shallow water arterial gas embolism. It illustrates the dangers of compressed air in water even shallow water. Naturally, were this to befall a pregnant woman, the injury would double.
Benton PJ, Woodfine JD, Westwood PR. Arterial gas embolism following a 1-meter ascent during helicopter escape training: a case report. Aviat Space Environ Med 1996 Jan; 67 (1): 63-4
We present the case of a helicopter pilot who suffered an arterial gas embolism following instruction in the use of the Short Term Air Supply System at a depth of 1 meter of water. This is believed to be the shallowest depth from which a case of arterial gas embolism associated with the use of compressed air breathing apparatus has been reported.
Dr Deco :doctor:
Another Shallow Water Gas Embolism
Below is an abstract of a case of shallow water arterial gas embolism. It illustrates the dangers of compressed air in water even shallow water. Naturally, were this to befall a pregnant woman, the injury would double.
Benton PJ, Woodfine JD, Westwood PR. Arterial gas embolism following a 1-meter ascent during helicopter escape training: a case report. Aviat Space Environ Med 1996 Jan; 67 (1): 63-4
We present the case of a helicopter pilot who suffered an arterial gas embolism following instruction in the use of the Short Term Air Supply System at a depth of 1 meter of water. This is believed to be the shallowest depth from which a case of arterial gas embolism associated with the use of compressed air breathing apparatus has been reported.
Dr Deco :doctor:
Pulmonary over inflation syndrome occurs in the training pool at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center that we had an established protocol for it... Not to say it was a daily or even monthly event but it did occur / both students and instructors have been affected.
The training is conducted in a 15' deep pool but the principle discussed above remains the same, the most drastic air volume change is that first atmosphere of water...
My wife recently completed a year long furlough from diving, (my diving decreased to mainly work related as well...) not because we thought it was an assurance of complications but we wanted to give both the best chance of success and I was worried if something unrelated did happen she would blame herself for taking the risk and diving.
It remains a personal choice after all...
By the way our beautiful daughter Jordan Elizabeth was born June 17th...
Best wishes to you...
Jeff Lane
The training is conducted in a 15' deep pool but the principle discussed above remains the same, the most drastic air volume change is that first atmosphere of water...
My wife recently completed a year long furlough from diving, (my diving decreased to mainly work related as well...) not because we thought it was an assurance of complications but we wanted to give both the best chance of success and I was worried if something unrelated did happen she would blame herself for taking the risk and diving.
It remains a personal choice after all...
By the way our beautiful daughter Jordan Elizabeth was born June 17th...
Best wishes to you...
Jeff Lane
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