Hot Topic: Teenage Pregnancy and Athletics

I saw this story when it originally aired on ESPN last weekend.  I saw it again this morning on Good Morning America.  You can read the story HERE.

I am curious what you think about this story.  The basics - a high school senior became pregnant and was kept from playing Volleyball.  After getting a doctors note (that stated the need to monitor heart rate and avoid collisions), she was still not allowed to play due to the inherent nature of the sport.  Next she got a note from her nurse at that doctors office which cleared her to play without restriction.  She was allowed back on the court but found her playing time decreased significantly.  In addition, she found that her coach had told the team about her pregnancy.  Her mother is fighting the school on the grounds of sex discrimination.

My take?

I think this story is just absurd.  Yes, pregnant women CAN exercise during pregnancy but should be careful about dehydration, overheating, and raising heart rate too high.  Pregnant women should also avoid physical trauma such as collisions or falls (biggest problem during the 3rd trimester).  As a former teacher (taught high school for 3 years), I understand the difficult situation the school is in.  They need to look out for the safety of the students first and foremost.  They also need to guard against lawsuits.    What would happen if this student miscarried after a physical game?  Would this mother who is fighting so hard for her daughter to play turn around and sue the school for not monitoring her carefully enough?

Also, schools often are looking for ways to educate their pregnant students while not encouraging teenage pregnancies.  I watched as students began wishing for a baby once they held a friend's baby or saw the ultrasound pictures.  One comment I heard repeatedly, "It wouldn't be that hard - I'd have somebody to love me."  Some of those girls who made those comments became pregnant shortly after making those comments.  By limiting some activities (limiting sports, altering class schedule to help student graduate before delivery, etc), other female students will see that life DOES change with a pregnancy and with motherhood.  The girl in the ESPN/ABC piece repeatedly said that she knows there will be a little change, but she wants life to continue the way she planned.  I am not advocating segregating pregnant students from everyone else, but the LOGICAL needs of the new mom need to be taken into account before trying to keep everything the same as it was before pregnancy.  Everything is NOT the same.

I just feel that the health and well being of the unborn baby should be the priority.  The new mom may need to alter her lifestyle a bit - that's just part of LIFE and part of being a MOM!  Why am I so enraged over this issue?  I was just walking during my last pregnancy.  I tripped and fell on my belly and started contractions at 29 weeks.  Thankfully, the doctors were able to stop labor.  The odds were NOT in our favor for a healthy delivery at that point.  I ended up delivering at 35 weeks and 6 days and thankfully, Little Man was healthy enough to come home with me even though he was a month early.  I wonder daily if that fall contributed to my early delivery.  I worry that I won't be able to stay pregnant as long as I need to this time around either.

I wonder where common sense has gone in our society.  What do you think?  Is this sex discrimination?  Is the school district at fault?  Is the mom at fault?  How should this be handled?  Who is right?  Discuss!