Contents
How to swim for pregnant women: how to properly swim in the pool
Swimming in the pool is the healthiest and safest form of physical activity while waiting for your baby. Let’s find out what exercises in the water give and how to swim for pregnant women so that water procedures bring the maximum benefit to the body.
Why is it good to swim during pregnancy?
Swimming in the pool is not only a great rest for the expectant mother, but also active preparation of the female body for childbirth. Swimming and water aerobics can be started already in the first trimester, and continue even with a big belly in late pregnancy.
Pregnant women need to swim to make labor easier.
The beneficial effects of swimming are as follows:
- normalization of blood circulation and work of the cardiovascular and excretory systems;
- development of all muscle groups involved in the birth of a child;
- increasing body endurance to facilitate childbirth;
- training of correct breathing;
- relieving tension from the spine and legs.
If you have a breech presentation, training in the pool will help your baby get into the correct position in the uterus, even in the third trimester.
It is helpful to practice breath-holding diving, but only in the presence of an experienced instructor. Such training will help the woman to endure the attempts more easily, and the baby – to get used to the lack of oxygen, which he will have to experience during birth.
How to swim for pregnant women?
Crawl swimming is the safest option for a woman in position. Follow these guidelines if you don’t know how to swim for pregnant women:
- move slowly and at the same pace in the pool;
- breathe freely and rest if you feel that your breathing has fallen out;
- alternate tension and relaxation to prepare the muscles of the body for childbirth;
- swim no more than 200 meters without a break;
- while swimming on your back, stretch your body so that your stomach protrudes slightly above the water;
- relax your legs and watch them move away from your hips.
If you do not float well on the water and feel insecure at depth, use special boards or aquaparks for swimming. With these devices, you can even swim on your back.
Swimming helps relieve stress and works great for all muscle groups, ligaments and joints. But we must not forget that in water the load on the body increases 2-3 times, although this is not perceptible. Before visiting the pool, be sure to consult with your gynecologist to make sure there are no contraindications.