swimming when pregnant

[aichi]

Hi

I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I've always swam pre-pregnant and have been swimming since 20-odd weeks.

I just wanted to find out if its safe to swim, esp. breast stroke when pregnant?

I heard its not recommended/safe to spread legs wide open when pregnant...
Is this right?

I think breast stroke can be tricky if you start to develop SPD. I definitely feel discomfort in my hips when I try and do it so now I am learning the front crawl so I can swim for the rest of the pregnancy (16 weeks).

I carried on to 37w and 38w in my pregnancies. (Swimming pool staff began to look a little nervous ) I never heard about problems with breast stroke, although the spd thing would make sense.

I went swimming on my due date. I grossed out bemused the poor lifeguards with my refusal to wear a maternity costume or tankini - unfortunately a bright pink string bikini doesn't cover much!

I do front crawl though

I was swimming at 41 weeks with both of mine, front crawl and breaststroke. Its a really good way of keeping active.

Er... if you can't spread your legs, how's the sex working out for you? [boggle]

keep swimming as long as you can. i have heard about the breaststroke not being advisable. basically it hurts if you have spd. with my dd i swam the day before she was born and she was 10 days overdue. it's wonderful and weightless.

skihorse - if you have spd and can't spread your legs you have to be more inventive

I think the whole breaststroke thing is due to you being stretchier than normal when pregnant so you run the risk of over stretching when doing breaststroke. Also, it might be comfier doing front crawl because you're more aligned horizontally - less strain on your back than with breaststroke.

Am still in awe/shock at the thought of swimming in a pink string bikini whilst 9 months pregnant Tondelayo! If I tried that, at least I'd have the entire pool to myself which would be nice!

I swam front crawl and breast stroke until 41 weeks with DS1. The only problem was feeling very heavy on getting out of the pool.

The fun bit is seeing everyone's faces when emerging from the water and they realise you are pregnant!

It's ILLEGAL to swim whilst pregnant - if you find a shop selling a maternity swimming costume, please report them to your local Trading Standards office - they take this sort of thing very seriously!

mum2oneloudbaby I hope you're not suggesting an alternative practice which could also lead to drowning!

It's OK PickleSarnie - I waxed!

Arf @Skihorse

I swam breast stoke with DS1 until 3 days before I gave birth. I think it's how I lost all the baby weight so quickly and gave birth in 70 minutes!

I swam crawl stroke until 40 weeks with ds, then started worrying about my water breaking in the pool. It was lovely being weightless in the water. Unfortunately, ds was not weightless on top of my bladder and I had to get out after 15 minutes to wee, again.

When you have spd you know what you can and can't do.
I would think you're more likely to move awkwardly and cause yourself pain on dry land than when bouyant in water.

I did the bikini at 9 months recently. Showed off all the veins streaking up my belly. I wasn't being brazen for the hell of it-I just couldn't find my maternity costume anywhere and the kids really wanted to go for a swim.

I'm 8 weeks postnatal now and there's no way I'm wearing a bikini again for a while....

Thanks for your replies. I had to look up what SPD was...I have had one painful pelvic pain (bottom of my bump on the right hand side) a few weeks ago, but I think that was because I got up from the bed really quickly to go to the loo in the middle of the night...It went away after 24hrs tho.

I do get pain now and again when walking (possibly walking too fast..) but not when I'm swimming. I thought the pain was to do with my stomach/skin stretching...?

Maybe I should mix front/back crawl and breast stroke next time.

I really enjoy swimming and floating about but like Minimarmite said I dont like it when I have to get out and feel how heavy you are...

It's only no breaststroke legs if you have SPD (and it bloody hurts so you wouldn't do it much with SPD!).

SPD is just issues from the front of the pelvis seperating - it's not all pelvic issues when pregnant. Pain only from getting up too fast sounds more like a muscular or ligament issue IMO.

If it's comfortable, don't worry about it - enjoy the exercise without the weight!

Swimming twice a week maintained my sanity whilst pregnant, i ha SPD and the only time i was comfortable was when i was boyant!!! I would literally dance around the pool for 2 hours, it was such a relief after being pretty much house/bed/sofa-bound the rest of the time. I also had no problems with a slightly modified breast stroke, ie i didnt kick out so wide. Didn't hurt at all.

I'd definately recommend it!!!

I'm sure swimming is fine and recommended during pregnancy,all strokes, and agree it is the best time for feeling weightless! I'm sure there's something in the theory that babies who's mummys have swam a lot during pregnancy enjoy the water when they are born.

Found this which is very cute
http://www.youtube.com/user/LittleDippersFilms#p/a/u/1/fO47ht-Pb-M

Swimming as everyone says v good

Breast stroke legs a no no ig you get hip pain when eg getting out of the car the non ladylike way

Also if you are high risk you may want to steer clear of pools which allow children ( pee) and use chlorine ( risk of infection or thrush if too much chlorine put in water to prevent the former). Ob gen says utis and thrush both increase miscarriage risk.

Oxygenated ? pools always fine as is the sea. Lakes to be avoided. I was way grumpy when told as spent holidays by lake with pool

I am 36 + 3 and have been swimming 3 or 4 times a week (breaststroke) since I gave up running at about 20 weeks. My midwife said it was absolutely fine though can see it would be painful if you have SPD. I find it really relaxing and it's a great way to maintain a bit of fitness.

Am 26 weeks. My midwife very encouraging of me swimming. Breaststroke is giving me upper back ache though and I get more tired doing the same as I used to do. Great exercise though.

I gave up with the breast stroke as been having some back ache but now use either a square float in my hands, or a leg float to work my arms - it is a right workout!

Blondecat - ALL swimming pools use chlorine, they have to. This is a GOOD thing as it disinfects the water / kills all the horrible germs!

our nhs trust and local council have linked up to provide free swimming during pregnancy, so I assume they think its a good thing to do {smile] I am going about twice a week at the minute as its so lovely to feel weightless for a bit.

it has crossed my mind though about the waters breaking - how would you know if it had happened in the pool?

tire feet - where are you? i'm payong a fortune to go to agym just for the pool & would love to make most of free swimming....

oggybags - Southampton; I know its a local initiative but they may well do it elsewhere. I think its great but haven't seen many other pregnant women in the pool so not sure how long they will keep running it for!