spd and swimming breast stroke - advice please

[Apricott]

I seem to have spd - pain in groin when walking, pain in hips in bed, but no difficulty at all opening legs and nothing unbearable. I just thought it was a pregnancy thing last time. Didn't realise it had a name etc until I came on MN. Anyway, mw at the last visit advised against swimming breast stroke. I can't do crawl and really want to carry on swimming. Swimming breast stroke doesn't hurt or seem to make other pains worse. Swimming back stroke hurts in the groin and is really quite uncomfortable.

What I'd love to know is whether swimming breast stroke is advised against because it usually hurts or makes the pain worse, or because it is actually likely to damage you, iyswim. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

i think that if you do have spd the opening of your legs wide in breaststroke stretches the affected ligament at teh front of your pelvis further.

I guess if it gives you no pain then that is a good sign, i defo can feel twinges and wierd clicks and things if i try B/S.

I cant do crawl v. well either so tend to swim using brest stroke arms but jsut kicking my legs as per crawl...though in my case is prob more doggy paddle.

You could just do gentle b/s...not open legs too wide and stop if you have pain. Personally i cant see how switching to back stroke, if that gives you pain is a good thing.

I hate doing any swimming stroke except BS but it hurts like hell at the mo. I've found that instead of opening legs side to side like normal if I kind of kick one leg infront and one to the side I can still swim but without the painful stretch. My swimming teacher would probably drown me if she saw me as she spent several years trying to stop me do just that ... walking BS she called it

hey, i had really bad spd in first preg and used to swim BS alot as only one could do well! By 34weeks could not walk. This time No.2 have been told not to swim esp BS and so far at 36 weeks no pain and fully mobile with the help of a superb chiropractor!!

wouldn't advise breast stroke with SPD - it doesn't hurt me either to do breast stroke at the time, but it really gets me a day or 2 later!! I think it could possibly make it worse in the long run. I tend to do the breast-stroke arms and kick my legs stroke!! Want a sign saying, I'm doing this on purpose, not because I can't swim very well, as I feel very self-conscious!!

Have to say that I love getting into the pool now I'm 36 weeks, but it is so exhausting that I don't actually do much swimming anymore - just floating and gentle movements!!

hope it doesn't cause you too much hassle as your pregnancy progresses.

take care
xxx

Thanks for your thoughts ladies.

Shall experiment with some of these hybrid strokes and see how it goes. Know what you mean about wanting an explanatory sign though !