Benefits Of Swimming During Pregnancy – Parenthood

Water not only helps to feel lighter – even the weight of the stomach – but also to relax,  which helps to release the tension that all pregnant women feel on their backs. At the same time, a gentle swimming session improves muscle tone in the legs, pelvis and glutes, which are vital during labor.

The swimming during pregnancy stimulates the circulatory system,  favored by the horizontal position you have when you swim. It is an exercise that prevents varicose veins, swelling and leg cramps while increasing the resistance of your lungs without causing physical fatigue.

Before starting your swimming sessions during pregnancy, consult a doctor

Although swimming is certainly one of the most recommended exercises for pregnant women, it is a good idea to consult a doctor before registering for the sessions. The latter will assess your physical conditions, family history and the conditions of your pregnancy. All of this will help you determine what kind of physical activity you will be doing in the water.

Swimming is normal for me. I feel relaxed. I am comfortable and I know my surroundings. It’s my house.

-Michael Phelps-

There are some things that your gynecologist should assess before you start swimming. Indeed, this exercise – although noble and complete – is contraindicated for women who experience a high-risk pregnancy and for those who are threatened with premature birth. It is also not a beneficial activity when the woman has placenta previa or uterine growth retardation, vascular problems, or cervical dilation.

In addition, according to specialists from the Spanish Heart Foundation, pregnancy is by no means the ideal time to learn to swim or to resume physical activities after long periods of  sedentary lifestyle. Hence the importance of having a physical evaluation before starting swimming lessons. It is also essential not to get tired during the exercise but rather to seek to execute the movements of the body in a gentle and relaxed way.

Swimming during pregnancy relaxes you

If your trusted doctor recommends that you exercise during pregnancy, you will find that swimming in a pool has many benefits during this time.

For example, one of the benefits of swimming is that it helps you relax the whole body, especially the areas  overloaded  by the baby’s weight because it helps distribute the weight and also frees the joints.

Swimming also improves the cardiovascular system and provides better tone to all muscles, as well as decreases circulatory edema. Swimming also helps you improve the flexibility of your body and acquire more physical resistance without exerting too much effort.

Another benefit of swimming during pregnancy is that this physical activity helps you improve your emotional state  as it reduces stress and nervous tension. Being in the water also allows you to know your body and better assimilate the changes that occur in it. In addition, this exercise, which can be done in one-hour sessions, encourages social relations and helps prepare you for the long-awaited moment of childbirth.

As you will notice, the benefits of swimming are so numerous that even doctors cannot agree on a recommended length of time for swimming during pregnancy.

Some specialists indicate that swimming is good until childbirth, since water helps improve symptoms that worsen during the last months of pregnancy, such as cramps, swollen feet from poor blood circulation. , back pain due to the weight of the belly, among others.

However,  there are doctors who advise to give up swimming lessons during the eighth month of pregnancy. This is when there is a greater risk of losing the mucus plug during exercise, without realizing it. So it is always better to seek the advice of a doctor and follow his instructions.