Wild Swimming

[suz2285]

Any other wild swimmers here, and if so, have you continued through pregnancy, with precautions? with any advice?

It's cold here, it always is, all year round, i reckon the water temp is about maybe 8-9 degrees now, I usually swim in neoprene and then swim shorts/top in summer. I've read a lot of articles since becoming pregnant which all seem to suggest it's safe as long as you don't get hypothermia?

Yep totally fine, just don't push yourself. Do what is comfortable and what you're used to.

And it would probably be good to pack a little extra snack for after, more than usual! Maybe a hot water bottle, even if you didn't need one before.

I totally lost my cold tolerance when pregnant - maybe because your core temperature rises in pregnancy so the difference in temperature feels more?

After happily swimming at 9/10 degrees, suddenly the leisure centre pool was too cold for me!

@oliveandwell yeah I think I've def changed temp wise, I was boiling for a while but I seem to be cold the last few days

I def want to get out swimming soon, life has been busy and I've been feeling less than great tbh! So I've not been pushing it but now it's getting a bit nicer weather I do want to get back out there and hope it helps my achy joints!

Good idea about the hot water bottle as well though 🤞

@suz2285 I went sea swimming in west wales this week and it actually felt amazing! I’ve been colder in general but the swim felt really good (although I felt a bit sea sick!). Agree with @oliveandwell advice too :)

I would be more cautious about infections, just basics like not swimming with an open cut, showering after a swim and not swimming for a couple of days after heavy rainfall (runoff from fields, and whatever the water company decides to do with raw sewage that day).

Do the places you swim have regular water quality checks?

Otherwise crack on and enjoy!

@Whippetmother glad you enjoyed it! the sea sickness yeah if it's choppy and i imagine worse if pregnant

@Timeforabiscuit yeah it's a recognised swimming area and is regularly checked, and I check the readings over the summer. Never had any issues before and have been swimming in that spot for 2 + years, but totally agree infections would be more of a risk!

If you swim there regularly, rather than a new hobby, even better - as anything hanging in the water you've already been exposed to.

I'm a bit jealous! Lovely cool water is bliss!

@Timeforabiscuit cool is nice, blooming baltic over winter but we're past the worst now, the jellyfish are starting to arrive so must be almost tropical now 😂