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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go swimming at 40 weeks pregnant?

27 replies

Stripylikeatiger · 22/10/2014 11:44

I'm wondering if there is any unwritten rules about this, I'm mostly concerned about the risk of my waters breaking in the pool and contaminating the pool.

It's pregnancy number 2 and my waters didn't break until I was in labour with dc1 so it's probably very unlikely that they will break in the pool!

OP posts:
TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 22/10/2014 11:45

I'm impressed that you're contemplating moving at all. Are you having any niggles? If not, I don't see why not. No worse than a kid doing a poo I suppose.

EmmaGellerGreen · 22/10/2014 11:46

Not sure if I was meant to, but I swam 12 hours before my waters broke which was the day before my due date. It was sheer bliss. Waters breaking in the pool didn't cross my mind!

SignoraStronza · 22/10/2014 11:47

Go for it. I swam right up to the bitter end with dc1 - was the only thing that kept me sane! I was huge too and the lifeguards used to look at me in horror every time I walked past. Didn't end up having a water birth though. Wink

Mabelface · 22/10/2014 11:47

Go and swim, you'll be fine. ?

caeleth84 · 22/10/2014 11:47

Have you lost your plug? I think I remember reading that you shouldn't go swimming if you've lost it late in the pregnancy due to risk of bacteria.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 22/10/2014 11:48

Go for it. There's much worse than some amniotic fluid in the pool anyway I'm sure Wink that's what the chlorine is for!

AuntieStella · 22/10/2014 11:49

Amniotic fluid is sterile, isn't it? So you wouldn't be presenting a risk.

No idea if pool water up your foof when labour could start at any time is a good idea or not, though

Mammanat222 · 22/10/2014 11:52

I am sure it is fine!

I am impressed, when I was 40 weeks with DS I was at home eating cake Cake

Satsuma25 · 22/10/2014 11:52

I swam until I was a week overdue with DS.

Take a water bottle to the pool side so you dont have to get out for a drink,and don't over do it obviously

Original poster
Stripylikeatiger · 22/10/2014 11:54

Oh good! My plug seems to still be intact, I was having painful contractions every 5 minutes last night but that only lasted about an hour. I have a "busy" toddler to entertain and I think swimming will be an easier option than standing around at the park for an hour in the rain!

I was thinking maybe swimming when that pregnant might be a big social faux pas like breastfeeding in the pool, it would be so embarrassing to have to tell the life guard my waters had broken!

OP posts:
whippetwoman · 22/10/2014 11:55

I remember going swimming with my toddler on the due date of my second
DC. It didn't occur to me not to! I think it'll be fine if your waters haven't gone. Enjoy Smile

thesparkthatbled · 22/10/2014 11:56

Emma, I read that as 'I swam for 12 hours ShockGrin

FrazzledFandangenstein · 22/10/2014 13:20

I went to aquanatal the night before I was induced.

The same midwife took the class and then discharged me from the ward. It was nice.

breakfastinbread · 22/10/2014 13:23

I've just been and I'm 39+3! I've not had so much as a twinge yet though, not sure if I'd go if I was having contractions the night before though?

Also, the showers at the gym are larger than my one at home, so it's often the only place I can still shave my legs!

FreckledLeopard · 22/10/2014 13:25

I went swimming the night before I went into labour. It was great. I could bob about in all sorts of positions.

GiantGraspingCeramicFist · 22/10/2014 13:25

Go for it OP, just don't forget to put your tankini bottoms on Grin

SistersOfPercy · 22/10/2014 13:26

Idiotic question time....

My waters were broken by the evil midwife and I have little memory of it, but if your waters went when swimming would you necessarily know?

SocksRock · 22/10/2014 13:28

I was swimming 6 hours before DS was born and he was 10 days late... Possibily pushing it slightly, but it was for the same reason - to entertain his older sister.

HemlockStarglimmer · 22/10/2014 14:22

I went to an aqua natal class at 41 weeks. I got teased for still being pregnant by the midwife and other pregnant women Smile Then the class was suddenly cancelled as about ninety* children swarmed into the pool.

I spent the rest of my paid for time bobbing about in the deep end enjoying the weightlessness.

*Probably twenty. At least a coach load at any rate.

BarbarianMum · 22/10/2014 14:24

Amniotic water isn't necessarily sterile - it can be full of meconium for a start! That said, Iswam up til 40 +9 w ds2 in a desperate attempt to get him to pivot (was OP). Just swim - as long as you're still got your 'plug'. V unlikely that anything will happen.

PiperIsOrange · 22/10/2014 14:28

Go for it, going by the reply it may even start labour off.

foreverondiet · 22/10/2014 14:34

Go for it! My sister even asked her midwife is it was ok after she had a show and was told it was fine as long as waters hadn't gone! And she swam 60 lengths, and gave birth that day Smile

PenelopeChipShop · 22/10/2014 14:35

Enjoy it, I'm another one who was floating around (swimming is probably stretching the truth) the day before my planned CS. I was so huge the water was one of the few places I was actually comfortable. I still remember the dragging feeling on my back as I climbed out and took on my weight again!

Original poster
Stripylikeatiger · 22/10/2014 18:03

Swimming was lovely! I sat ds on a big float and swam around with him on his "boat" for a while, we then went to play in the little toddler pool which was empty apart from us so I sat under some sprinklers and ds ran around me.

My waters didn't go (as far as I know! My friend'a waters went in the shower, or that's where she assumes they went as when she got to hospital she had no watersShock) I'm having quite regular tightenings but they will probably subside soon, this happened for about a week with ds's pregnancy, very frustrating!!

OP posts:
ellieclarke1 · 05/11/2014 14:24

My friend swam all the way up to her due date with twins and she said it really helped keep her calm and also supple for the birth.

It wasn't so much the swimming that was a task when I was pregnant, it was finding maternity swimwear that would stretch over my growing bump! I've seen some gorgeous swimwear at www.zoggs.com and ASOS, what a shame they didn't make such stylish swimwear when I was having my little one!! :(