Pregnant This AFL Grand Final Day? Your Game-Day Survival Guide
There aren’t many days when Melbourne is quite as Melbourne as AFL Grand Final Day.
The scarves come out, the BBQ goes on, someone starts arguing about the umpiring before the first bounce, and even people who haven’t watched a game all year suddenly have very strong opinions about who should win.
But if you’re pregnant this Grand Final Day, your game-day preparation might look a little different this year.
Whether you’re heading to the MCG, watching at a pub, going to a Grand Final BBQ or staying comfortably planted on the couch, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the day.
You may just need a slightly different game plan.
Heading to the MCG while pregnant?
Pregnancy doesn’t automatically rule out a day at the football.
If your pregnancy is progressing normally and you’re feeling well, attending a sporting event is generally fine. But the MCG on Grand Final Day is a very long day – particularly when you add getting there, queues, crowds, stairs and the trip home.
A few practical things can make it much more comfortable:
- Wear comfortable shoes. This is probably not the day for fashion over function.
- Take opportunities to sit down rather than standing for long periods.
- Keep drinking water throughout the day.
- Eat regularly rather than waiting until you’re starving.
- Know where the nearest toilets are. If you’re pregnant, you probably do this automatically anyway.
- Allow extra time getting in and out of the ground so you’re not rushing through crowds.
If you're well into your third trimester, think about transport too. Getting home from the MCG with 100,000 other people is challenging enough without being 37 weeks pregnant.
What can I eat at a Grand Final BBQ while pregnant?
This is probably where Grand Final Day becomes a little more complicated.
Pregnancy food-safety recommendations still apply even if someone insists their potato salad has been sitting in the sun for “hardly any time”.
Be particularly careful with undercooked meat, cold processed meats, raw or undercooked eggs, unpasteurised dairy products and food that has been sitting unrefrigerated for an extended period.
Hot food should be cooked thoroughly and served hot. Cold food should be kept properly refrigerated.
And if you’re not sure how long something has been sitting on the table, there is absolutely no obligation to eat it to avoid offending whoever made it.
Pregnancy is an excellent excuse.
Can I have alcohol on Grand Final Day?
The safest recommendation during pregnancy is not to drink alcohol.
Australian health advice recommends that women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol, as no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy has been established.
Fortunately, the alcohol-free options have improved considerably.
Just check the label carefully. “Low alcohol” and “alcohol free” aren't necessarily the same thing, and some drinks marketed as non-alcoholic may still contain a small amount of alcohol.
There are also plenty of genuinely alcohol-free alternatives if you want something slightly more festive than your sixth glass of sparkling water.
What about coffee?
If Grand Final celebrations started early – or pregnancy has already destroyed your ability to sleep – you may be eyeing off another coffee by half-time.
You don't necessarily have to give up caffeine during pregnancy, but Food Standards Australia New Zealand recommends limiting caffeine to no more than 200 mg per day during pregnancy.
And remember, caffeine isn't only in coffee. Tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate can all contribute to your daily intake.
So keep an eye on the total rather than counting coffees alone.
Don't forget the water
This isn't the glamorous Grand Final advice, but it may be the most useful.
Pregnancy can make you more susceptible to feeling hot, tired, light-headed and generally uncomfortable, particularly after a long day.
If Melbourne happens to give us one of those unexpectedly warm September days, staying hydrated becomes even more important.
Drink water regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.
Yes, this may mean more trips to the toilet.
Unfortunately, pregnancy has never been particularly respectful of convenience.
My feet and ankles are already swollen. Will a day at the footy make it worse?
Potentially.
Mild swelling of the feet and ankles is common during pregnancy and can become more noticeable after prolonged sitting or standing.
If you're at the football, try to change position regularly and move around when you safely can.
Comfortable footwear also helps.
However, sudden or significant swelling – particularly involving your face or hands, or swelling associated with headache, visual changes or feeling unwell – should not simply be blamed on a long day at the football.
Those symptoms warrant medical assessment.
Is the noise at the MCG harmful to my baby?
This is a question pregnant women sometimes worry about when attending concerts and major sporting events.
Going to an AFL match and experiencing the usual crowd noise isn't generally considered a reason to avoid the football during an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy.
Your baby is well protected inside your body, and sounds reaching the uterus are not experienced in exactly the same way you hear them.
That said, prolonged exposure to extremely loud noise is different from attending an occasional sporting event, so sensible precautions around excessive noise still apply.
What if I'm close to my due date?
This is where I would put a little more thought into your Grand Final plans.
Being 39 weeks pregnant doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend the day sitting at home waiting for labour to start.
But you should know what you would do if it did.
If you're heading somewhere busy, consider:
- How far you are from your maternity hospital.
- How you'll get there if you need to leave.
- Whether your hospital bag is ready.
- Whether your partner or support person has been drinking.
- Who you need to call if contractions begin or your waters break.
If you've been given specific instructions by your obstetrician or maternity team because of your individual pregnancy, those instructions take priority over any general advice – including Grand Final plans.
And perhaps don't volunteer to host 30 people at your house three days before your due date.
You have enough going on.
What if my baby starts moving during the game?
Enjoy it.
Babies have their own patterns of movement, and you may notice your baby becoming particularly active while you're sitting watching the game.
What matters is knowing your baby's usual pattern of movements.
If you notice a reduction or significant change in your baby's normal movements, don't wait until the game finishes to seek advice.
Contact your maternity hospital or maternity care provider promptly.
There is no football score important enough to delay assessment of reduced fetal movements.
Can I celebrate if my team wins?
Absolutely.
Within reason.
Jumping off the couch may become considerably less graceful in the third trimester, and your centre of gravity isn't quite what it used to be.
Perhaps leave the crowd surfing to somebody else.
The final siren
Being pregnant doesn't mean sitting on the sidelines of everything you enjoy.
For most women with an uncomplicated pregnancy, Grand Final Day can still involve the footy, friends, food and celebrations. The main differences are a little more planning, sensible food choices, no alcohol, plenty of water and listening to your body.
And if you're heavily pregnant, perhaps having the hospital bag somewhere closer than the back of the wardrobe.
Enjoy the game.
And remember – babies are notoriously unreliable when it comes to respecting the AFL fixture.
Dr Stephen Cole is a Melbourne Obstetrician and Specialist in Maternal-Fetal Medicine providing private pregnancy care in Melbourne, including uncomplicated and high-risk pregnancies.
If you're pregnant and considering private obstetric care in Melbourne, Team Cole welcomes enquiries at any stage of pregnancy.