Pregnancy makes a trip to the track quite an ordeal

By Carolyn Brewster

Thursday, October 22, 2009

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While I enjoyed pregnancy with all three of my kids, I was huge and terribly uncomfortable. I had none of that “glow” you hear so often used to describe pregnant women – just food stains on my shirt where my belly doubled as a table to set dipping sauce for the large quantity of chicken nuggets I consumed.

Although I tried to remain active the entire nine months, I did curtail a few things here and there. And one place you would have never found me would be at the race track.

The physical demands required to partake in a day of NASCAR racing would have just about sent me into labor. Yet, at every race I attend, there are a few brave expectant mothers. I’m not talking about the mildly pregnant – if that’s even a condition – I’m thinking about the really expectant mothers, the kind that make me think, “I hope their midwife has a seat in the same row.”

Try as I might, I cannot imagine a more miserable place to be while pregnant.

First, there’s the heat. After I spend a day at the track – almost eight years postpartum – my feet are swollen. When I was pregnant, I lived in a perpetual state of puffiness. Had I attended a race, I can only imagine the looks of sympathy I would have received when fans realized I was indeed a person and not the Goodyear blimp.

But heat means drinking water, and lots of it. Picture sitting smack dab in the middle of your row and having to crawl over the other fans and all their stuff for about as many trips to the restroom as there are laps in the race. All the time hoping that A) there is no line and B) the toilets all flush.

And finally, let’s not underestimate the amount of walking required during a day at the track. You park your car and take a lengthy walk to the grandstands. Then you walk around the souvenir haulers. There’s the long walk to pick up your tickets. There’s the walk back to your car to drop off the Kasey Kahne onesie you bought for the baby.

Back to the grandstand, again, then it’s time to walk to the bathroom (multiple times). Walk, walk, walk. That’s a lot of walking for anyone, let alone someone who’s pregnant. Are there any statistics on women going into labor as a result of NASCAR races?

Now that I think of it, attending a NASCAR event isn’t just tough on expectant mothers, it can prove difficult for any fan with a special physical need or challenge – asthma, arthritis, even those fans who are just carrying a few extra pounds.

So pregnant race-going fans, good for you. You’re far tougher than I ever was. I congratulate you and welcome the next generation of devoted NASCAR followers.