There are NO aquanatal classes in our area!

[Scheherezadea]

There are at least 3 swimming pools in our area, and none of them run aquanatal. One of them used to, but the instructor has been 'off sick' for three months now (I enquired when first realised I was pregnant, am now 26 weeks!) and no idea when she is returning - probably once I've given birth. Do they not realise that being pregnant is a temporary thing, I can't just hold onto the baby whilst waiting for her to come back?

Should I complain? And who to?

No don't complain fgs just go for a swim.

OMG that's terrible-why don't you contact your MP?

Seriously-as norah says-just go swimming!

ruddynora - I have SPD, Drs have advised me to do aquanatal. "Just going for a swim" hurts my groin/thighs because I can only do breastroke, and I'm a terrible swimmer anyway, and was hoping these classes would help.

Oh well, will make up for it by seeing an NHS physio more regularly. That's obviously more reasonable than wanting to pay £5 for aquanatal hooray for taxpayers money, eh.

Tbh it's just like aqua fit. You could give that a go and just take it very easily.

Someone on another thread was advised to join the over 55's class....

X-posted...

Personally the physio did nothing for me, can recommed you see a chiro though.

• Thanks SSD - I understand what you mean. Have tried the breastroke/crawl technique but inevitably end up sinking with a mouth full of water! Same - there is nothing for pg people at all, without going into a different local authority 'area', which I don't know if I can do?

Also we live in a rural area, and have only just moved here. Am not working, so was hoping to do it as a way of socialising, as am going mad in my (very lovely, but very cabin fever) cottage.

Ours at least is supposed to have the classes - a friend went last year. but the instructor has been off sick now for over 3 months, you'd of thought they would get a replacement, even just temporary, or some alternative

/moan

ruddynorah :o

where i live there are 10 pools in a very large area run under the same company.

1 of the pools runs 1 aqua natal class a week, and thats it.... always at a lunch-ish time thats no good for anyone who works!

i love my aqua-natal but i love swimming too

nannyl - can you get time off work to go? Someone at my old office was allowed to go to aquanatal by her employer.

nannyl mine is in the morning too. Such a pain! I managed when prg with dd as I was full time, and just booked half a days holiday each week, but no way am I going to be able to swing it this time as I'm part time.... oh well!

Aquanatal was fab for my spd, but this time I'm doing preg yoga which is great too. Really relaxing, and she gives extra guidance for the ladies with spd.

Can your mw point you in the direction of some classes? Or maybe you could find a private aquanatal teacher and the mw could suggest some other ladies who'd be interested. Put your own class together? Could make a few ££'s too!

Our aquarobics instructor is fab - routine is designed so that a huge range of people can get a great workout from it, whether PG/fit/unfit/arthritic/old/young/swimmer/non-swimmer. I'd suggest you speak to a local aqua instructor about whether you could do their general class with or without modifications for your PG.

Leisure centres don't have to provide aqua natal. There's lots of areas that don't. Where I am it's ran by the midwives. I have no intention of going cos tbh it's no different to any other aqua class. Even better at my gym theyve strews aqua zumba, intrigued to check that out.

Failing that if there aren't any bog standard aqua classes how about just swimming?

Scheherezadea I've got a similar problem, my local pool doesn't run one at all, the nearest town does them at 10:30 on a Tuesday which is no good to (working) man nor beast. It's an hour round trip to get to so I'd pretty much need the whole morning off.

Like you I can only swim breaststroke but it hurts my back. Like you I tried the breast/crawl combo and sank! When I swim now I use a float and it works fine but I don't really feel like I'm exerting myself at all IYKWIM.

Having read the advice in this thread I think I'm just going to try a normal Aquafit class and try to ignore the stares and all the perfect bikini bodies :o

I am not working any more so for me it hasnt been a problem to go. (I just know it is for other people)

I think a doctor or midwife has to advise you to go to be allowed time off, dont they? I finished working at 16 weeks pregnant so am really lucky to be able to go so easily... in fact im off there in 20 mins time

If you go to a normal aquafit class make sure the instructor knows you are pregnant and dont do tummy exercises... other wise what we do seems pretty similar to aqua fit. I have done aqua fit lots before being pregnant!

Whereabouts in Derbyshire are you? because there is an aquanatal class just outside of Chesterfield.

depending on where you are there is also aqua natal in huddersfield, which is not far from the most northern point of derbyshire

Some good advice, thanks :)

I know you are "in the sticks" but if you want to know where the aquanatal classes near Chesterfield are I can tell you.
Wouldn't want you to miss out on them when they aren't too far away and you think they would help you.