Swimming is one of the most beneficial sports for a healthy and normal pregnancy. During pregnancy, the expectant mother can do many different exercises such as yoga and maternity pilates, but swimming prepares the expectant mother for birth with different benefits ranging from facilitating childbirth to weight control, from the mother’s mental health to the development of the baby.
Benefits of Swimming During Pregnancy
- Swimming during pregnancy protects heart and lung health. It prevents discomfort that may occur in the respiratory tract by ensuring the regular functioning of the lungs.
- During swimming, all muscle groups in the abdomen, legs and arms work together. Provides weight control.
- When swimming, the expectant mother’s heart rate and the amount of oxygen she receives increase. This increases the amount of oxygen to the baby.
- Regular swimming helps to reduce the muscle and joint pain associated with pregnancy.
- Swimming can also prevent sleep problems. As the pain subsides and the mood is high, the expectant mother can also eliminate sleep problems.
- Swimming can also help reduce nausea in the first months of pregnancy.
- There is no danger of injury when swimming, so it is one of the safest exercises.
- Swimming reduces stress levels and increases the ability to cope with the mental and physical problems of pregnancy.
What should be considered when swimming during pregnancy?
First of all, as with any type of exercise, it is very important for the health of both mother and baby to get a doctor’s approval before deciding to take up swimming. The second thing to pay attention to is hygiene. If possible, swimming in the sea would be the healthiest method. However, if it is winter and a pool is preferred, regularly checked and cleaned pools should be preferred.
If swimming in the sea, it would be better to swim close to the shore without sailing in order to avoid the risk of cramps. It is healthiest to warm up the body before swimming and to swim slowly and surely. When choosing a swimsuit, comfortable, specially designed swimsuits for pregnant women that do not squeeze the body should be preferred, and the swimsuit should be changed after leaving the water. Waiting in a wet bathing suit, especially after swimming, is a facilitator for infections. That is why it is important to change swimsuits after swimming.
Following these simple rules, I recommend healthy pregnant women to swim during pregnancy.
