Can Pregnant Women Swim? – Do you like swimming and want to do it when you are pregnant? But worried and still wondering, can swimming be done by pregnant women? So that you no longer hesitate, let’s see the explanation for pregnant women to swim below.
It cannot be denied that during pregnancy you are not as free to do anything as before you were pregnant. When pregnant you must first consider what you are going to do. This is done to keep your pregnancy healthy. One of the things that mothers often worry about during pregnancy is whether or not to swim.
Swimming is a fun sport. As we know, exercise has many health benefits, including for pregnant women. Pregnant women who frequently exercise during pregnancy can prevent their babies from developing chronic diseases as adults. Even the risk of complications pregnancy going down by doing exercise while pregnant.
Although exercise is good for pregnant mother, but that doesn’t mean all sports can be done by pregnant women. Only a few exercises are safe to do while pregnant. So what about swimming? Can pregnant women swim? Well, to find out the explanation, you can just look at the discussion below.
Can Pregnant Women Swim?
Many women who like to swim but have begun to leave this sport for fear of interfering with their pregnancy. Actually, can pregnant women swim? According to physiotherapist, Alison Bourne states that swimming for pregnant women is allowed. Swimming will help pregnant women maintain their body fitness, and gather enough energy. By doing this water sport, your body muscles will be trained so that you will not tire easily.
Swimming is said to be safe for pregnant women to do because the movements that are carried out while swimming will not burden the muscles of the spine and joints. Even swimming during pregnancy will make pregnant women sleep more soundly. As we all know, pregnant women often complain of insomnia. By swimming, pregnant women will get a better sleep time.
It’s just that, it is important for you to always consult with your doctor before starting new activities while pregnant. This is done to avoid things that are not desirable. (Also read: Can pregnant women take a sauna and warm water? )
Preparation Before Swimming For Pregnant Women
If you decide to swim while pregnant, you can consult with your doctor first about your condition. If the doctor has given permission then you no longer need to hesitate to do this activity. Ideally, a minimum of 30 minutes of swimming time, if your health before and after pregnancy is said to be good.
For those of you who are trying to swim for the first time, you should avoid swimming alone. You can ask a trusted swimming instructor to accompany and guide you swimming slowly. When swimming itself is best done in the morning because it can make your body fit and increase body strength, and can relieve nausea. So that during swimming you don’t experience injury or muscle cramps, you can warm up first.
Meeting water needs is very important. You must still meet your fluid needs by drinking 1 glass of water every 20 minutes of swimming. After finishing swimming you also have to drink water at least a glass of water. If the weather is hot while swimming, the need for water will certainly increase. You can customize it.
Can Pregnant Women Do All Styles While Swimming?
You have to pay attention to the style you use when swimming. However, during the first trimester of pregnancy, you can swim in whatever style you like and make you comfortable. It’s just that, when gestational age enters the second trimester, the size of the mother’s body usually changes, getting heavier and bigger. You have to pay attention to the style when swimming. At this gestational age, the backstroke on the water can be a movement that you can do during the second trimester of pregnancy. You can ask for guidance from the swimming instructor who accompanies you. When pregnant you should also invite your husband to accompany you to swim.
Meanwhile, stepping on the last trimester of pregnancy, the swimming style you can do is breaststroke. If the time of birth is approaching, you should avoid swimming with the backstroke.
After finishing swimming you have to be careful when you get out of the swimming pool to prevent falling or slipping. Therefore, it would be better if you invite your husband.
If while swimming you experience some of the conditions below, you should not continue swimming. Some of the symptoms that you should be aware of are as follows.
- Experiencing uterine contractions
- The head feels sore and it’s hard to breathe
- Irregular and fast heartbeat
- Pain in the stomach
- Dehydration
- There was bleeding
To avoid things that are not desirable like that, then you should always consult all the activities you are going to do with your obstetrician.
Chemicals Used In Swimming Pools Should Be Watched Out
You will certainly worry when you decide to swim in public swimming pools because they usually contain chemicals such as chlorine. These chemicals are known to be harmful to pregnancy if used excessively. Therefore you should swim in a swimming pool without chlorine, well maintained, safe and in clean conditions.
Benefits of Swimming During Pregnancy
Swimming during pregnancy brings many benefits for pregnant women. Let’s look at some of the following benefits of swimming during pregnancy.
Smooth Air Circulation
Swimming will help increase the tendency of the mother’s body to develop and utilize oxygen which is important for both the mother and the baby. Swimming will improve circulation, the function of the lungs increases through movement when you inhale and exhale while swimming. That way the breathing of pregnant women will be better so that breathing becomes more regular and pregnant women will not be easily suffocated due to an enlarged uterus.
Burn Calories
Swimming will burn calories in the body. In addition, you will sleep better. By swimming your body weight will remain balanced.
Blood Circulation
By swimming, blood circulation will become smoother, and muscle strength will increase. Swimming can relieve back discomfort due to an enlarged stomach.
Strengthens Uterus and Pelvic Muscles
Swimming is one of the best exercises. The reason is, this activity involves the two big muscles, namely the leg muscles and arm muscles. Swimming has the advantage of being able to help strengthen the pelvic muscles and uterine muscles.
Thus pregnant women can swim, but make sure to swim in a pool th
at is clean and low in chlorine content. That is an explanation regarding whether pregnant women can swim. Hope it is useful.
This article is reviewed by Midwife Pevi Revina sTR. Keb
