Swimming in pregnancy

For many women who are preparing to become mothers, the question of the possibility of including physical exercises in water, swimming lessons in the number of special prenatal preparation activities is becoming quite relevant, and in addition, how useful in this regard can a swimming pool be during pregnancy and what are the known risks that may accompany visiting it.

Today, it is reasonable to say that the lack of physical activity of the expectant mother can lead to an increased probability of spontaneous abortion, can cause an increase in the severity of toxicosis, and also causes weak labor. So, the special condition of a woman carrying a child should in no way serve as a reason for refusing to follow the old as the world, but still relevant today, well-known principle that movement is life! And being in an aquatic environment is the best fit for pregnant women to do physical exercises. Firstly, in water the body is in a virtually weightless state, when performing aqua aerobic exercises aimed at stretching muscles, which is important for the ligaments, which are weakened during this difficult period of a woman's life. On the other hand, water provides a certain resistance to each movement, which means that during each exercise a little more intense muscle tension is required than during regular exercise outside the pool. As a result, the pregnant woman's body reaches a state of better overall physical fitness, becomes more trained, which in turn helps the respiratory and cardiovascular systems acquire greater reserves.

The pool during pregnancy, thus, swimming, diving, aqua aerobics are a very positive factor in the process of preparing the female body for childbirth, which can ensure an easier and less painful birth of the child, in which the possibility of perineal ruptures or the need for perineotomy is minimized.

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Swimming pool when planning pregnancy

Stopping visiting the pool when planning a pregnancy and later, during the period of bearing a fetus, if the woman leads an active lifestyle and regularly goes in for sports, in particular, swimming, often does not have an urgent need. The only exceptions to this rule can be mainly those cases when the woman has some categorical contraindications. And in other respects, as far as physical activity is concerned, it is recommended only to reduce their intensity, refuse strength exercises and exercises focused on the abdominal muscles. In the pool, you should do special gymnastics, which is practiced in groups for pregnant women. Such exercises become excellent preparation for the loads that the back muscles, pelvic and abdominal muscles are subjected to during pregnancy. Special health gymnastics complexes of aqua aerobics are developed taking into account the state of the female body at different stages of pregnancy.

Aqua aerobics, swimming, diving help improve overall well-being and tone up the entire body. Visiting the pool two or three times a week helps to achieve optimum and control body weight, which is a big plus when planning a child. Swimming also activates the growth of the endometrial layer, which is another positive factor in increasing the likelihood of successful conception, due to the fact that there is increased blood circulation in the pelvic area.

It is necessary, however, to pay attention to the fact that when choosing a place for swimming and other physical exercises in water, preference should still be given to an indoor pool. Since open water bodies are often unreliable in terms of cleanliness and infection safety. After all, it is completely inopportune if you have to spend time and energy on healing some unexpected disease that postpones such a desired moment when a woman can feel the birth of a new life inside herself.

The pool when planning a pregnancy, based on this, requires a thoughtful and comprehensively considered approach, and a preliminary consultation with the attending physician. If all the necessary conditions are met, the chances of successful conception, successful gestation and birth of a healthy child increase.

Contraindications to swimming during pregnancy

Contraindications to swimming pools during pregnancy primarily consist of the existence of a threat of spontaneous abortion. The question of whether it is advisable for a particular woman "in position" to visit a swimming pool should be decided during a consultation with a specialist under whose medical supervision she is during the period of bearing a fetus.

This possibility is excluded, in particular, due to the presence of any profuse discharge or, for example, placenta previa.

A reasonable solution would be to avoid swimming pools for those women who have increased uterine tone.

It is not advisable to go to the pool with acute forms of sexually transmitted infections, and in addition, in the presence of any other diseases in the acute stage. Of the latter, as an example, we can name, in particular, an exacerbation of tuberculosis.

Chronic appendicitis also makes swimming, diving and water aerobics in the pool a category of activities unacceptable during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, women with any systemic blood diseases should avoid visiting the pool.

Swimming is prohibited in cases of uterine bleeding, eclampsia, and preeclampsia in pregnant women.

The inadmissibility of physical exertion during swimming and performing exercises in water is due to obstetric pathologies, symptoms inherent in gestosis, and also characterizing the phenomena of early or extremely pronounced toxicosis, which is accompanied by incessant vomiting.

Another contraindication is cases of habitual miscarriage that have previously occurred in each previous pregnancy.

And, of course, one of the main warning signs that calls for the expectant mother to give up the pool is the occurrence of systematic painful contractions after a session of exercise.

Contraindications to the pool during pregnancy, taking into account all of the above, of course, take place. However, if a woman preparing to become a mother is not sick with any of the listed diseases, and there are no occurrences of all sorts of negative phenomena, it can be confidently stated that physical activity in the water will be more useful than it can cause harm.

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Swimming pool in early pregnancy

A swimming pool in early pregnancy, according to many, is certainly a positive factor. Of course, swimming and water gymnastics are not capable of immediately influencing the better course of pregnancy in some special miraculous way, but at least they have a beneficial effect on the general condition and tone of the body of a woman preparing to become a mother. Therefore, visiting a swimming pool is often recommended to begin literally in the first weeks, in order to begin preparatory activities for childbirth as early as possible.

So, after a consultation with the attending physician has established that there are no serious obstacles to this, the path to the pool is completely open.

Often expectant mothers may be concerned about the possibility of easily getting some unpleasant disease as a result of staying in a public swimming pool. After all, a limited volume of water, into which a large number of different people are immersed, seems to be an ideal environment for the development and reproduction of all sorts of infections and pathogenic bacteria. In this regard, it should be said right away that such concerns are mostly unfounded. Many modern swimming pools are equipped with highly effective powerful water purification systems, using special means in which there is no chlorine.

In order to start exercising in the pool, you must definitely enroll in a special group for pregnant women under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

On the one hand, a swimming pool in early pregnancy is a wonderful way for a woman to maintain herself in optimal physical shape, and on the other hand, it is a very important positive psychological factor. In the process of communicating in a group with the same expectant mothers, all the problems and worries that a woman has recede into the background, she gains a positive attitude and confidence that such activities are only good for her baby.

Swimming pool in late pregnancy

The main purpose of a swimming pool in late pregnancy is not to achieve any significant improvement in overall physical condition or to give the figure a special grace of lines. The very essence of visiting a pool, swimming, water gymnastics exercises - aqua aerobics during this period is to maintain yourself in physical shape with the least possible changes compared to that which preceded conception and the beginning of intrauterine development of the fetus.

And, based on this, classes for expectant mothers do not provide for any intense loads. It is recommended to limit yourself to simply walking and running in the water with high knee lifts and accompanying this with arm and leg swings.

An important aspect is the need to perform stretching exercises. Under the influence of warm water in the pool, the ligaments become more elastic, which is of great importance for the birth process. And after the successful birth of the baby, this further contributes to the restoration of the figure in a shorter time.

It is important to engage the muscles of the inner thighs in the exercises. For this purpose, you can do the following. Taking hold of the handrail on the wall of the pool with your hands, while resting your feet on the wall, lift your legs, spreading them as wide as possible. Do not rush so that the tissues have the opportunity to get used to this state. Then you need to try to spread your legs even wider, as if doing the splits.

As we can see, a pool in late pregnancy helps maintain the physical fitness of a woman who is about to become a mother, and can also help prepare her body for the process of childbirth.

Swimming during pregnancy in the pool

Swimming during pregnancy in a pool can be called one of the most effective methods that can help prepare a woman for the birth process.

First of all, everything becomes lighter in water. And being in an aquatic environment, a woman in a positive emotional mood from the upcoming joys of motherhood, can fully receive only one positive from this. She is not burdened by the weight of her own, bulky, pregnancy-changed body. For some time, she is able to feel lighter than a feather! Water helps to overcome stress, get rid of worries and anxieties in the most wonderful way.

Swimming implies that the pregnant woman's body takes a horizontal position during this process, which in turn reduces the load on the spine, bone and muscle systems. It is associated with a good level of physical activity, leads to the development of endurance and helps to strengthen the pectoral muscles. There is an assumption that the activation of blood flow in the chest muscles subsequently directly determines better production of breast milk.

Diving, which can accompany swimming, also seems to be no less important.

By diving head first under water, the expectant mother gains valuable experience in holding her breath, which will be useful during labor pains. And the little person inside her will learn to do without oxygen for some time. After all, with the end of labor, he will no longer be able to receive it from his mother, since the umbilical cord connecting them will be cut.

As practice shows, a child who has adapted to the phenomenon of such temporary hypoxia moves more quickly towards the exit through the birth canal and demonstrates a better ability to adapt to the surrounding world after birth.

Swimming during pregnancy in a pool helps a woman prepare well for the birth process, both physically and psychologically, and in addition, plays a certain positive role in the development of the child.

Visiting the pool during pregnancy

Visiting a swimming pool during pregnancy is possible only if the expectant mother has not been diagnosed with any direct contraindications. The main ones are: increased risk of spontaneous termination of pregnancy or premature birth, presence of skin lesions, high degree of toxicosis, etc. The next step is to choose an institution that would meet all the necessary criteria. The pool should be clean and have safe and comfortable steps for entering the water. In addition, the staff of such a pool should include a full-time gynecologist.

While in the pool, a pregnant woman is required to strictly follow certain safety rules. First of all, it is necessary to learn to evenly distribute physical activity, since excessive fatigue leads to a deterioration in the general well-being of the woman.

Performing physical exercises in water must be accompanied by breathing exercises, which together contribute to improving health and serve as excellent preparation for the birth process.

As for swimming in the pool, we note that its sporty styles are absolutely unacceptable for a woman preparing to become a mother. You need to swim calmly, without making excessive efforts, and, of course, do not set yourself the goal of becoming a champion in ultra-long marathon swims. You should limit yourself to short distances.

To avoid falls on the wet and very slippery pool tiles, and to protect yourself from injury for this reason, it is recommended to walk only on the paths. And in order to minimize the risk of getting a fungal infection of the feet, walking barefoot is undesirable, you must wear flip-flops.

Visiting a swimming pool during pregnancy requires constant monitoring of the expectant mother's well-being. Chlorination in the pool is undoubtedly a positive factor in terms of water disinfection, however, on the other hand, chlorine often provokes the development of dermatitis and all kinds of allergies on the skin. The smell of chlorine can also cause an increase in the symptoms of toxicosis, which is especially typical for the early stages of pregnancy. Due to this, such great importance is attached to a mandatory preliminary consultation with a gynecologist.

Pregnancy and a chlorinated pool

The benefits of swimming and physical activity in water during pregnancy are obvious. This is a wonderful preventive measure against cardiovascular diseases. There is also no doubt about their beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system. A set of special aqua aerobic exercises acts as one of the effective preparatory measures to ensure that childbirth occurs naturally, since as the birth approaches, it helps the child acquire the correct position in the uterus.

However, visiting a swimming pool by a pregnant woman is associated with a number of unfavorable aspects. Pregnancy and a chlorinated pool is one of them, which often becomes a subject of concern and uncertainty for expectant mothers.

Chlorine, as bleaching powder is called, is used to kill all kinds of pathogenic bacteria in water and prevent the spread of diseases. Chlorination of water in swimming pools has been a common disinfection practice for decades, and the negative consequences of its use have never been widespread. However, this should not be the basis for considering this product completely harmless. On the contrary, the insidiousness of chlorine lies precisely in the fact that its harmful effect begins to become actual only as it accumulates in the human body.

When a pregnant woman swims in water containing chlorine, the skin absorbs bleach, and from the mother's body it is in any case transferred to the child in some quantity. During the gradual evaporation of chlorine, chlorine gas is released, and when it is inhaled (and if you smell chlorine, it means that it is present in the air), poisoning occurs for both the pregnant woman and the fetus. In small doses, this gas does not pose a significant danger, but over time, its cumulative effect can have a negative effect.

Researchers from Belgium claim that if a woman carrying a child visits an indoor swimming pool with chlorinated water at least once a week, the harm to the fetus can be compared to that of regular smoking for an adult. It is also said that exposure to chlorine increases the risk of the child developing allergies and asthma. According to other specialists in the field of lung diseases, this connection is not obvious.

Be that as it may, such a combination as pregnancy and a chlorinated pool poses a threat of at least dryness and irritation, allergic reactions on the skin of the expectant mother, and for the baby this can be fraught with a tendency to allergies, the development of asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system. Therefore, it is better to opt for those pools in which the water is purified in a different way, without the use of chlorine. Fortunately, today there are enough of them to choose the most suitable one.

Reviews of the pool during pregnancy

• Valentina

It seems to me that many girls become simply overly suspicious due to their pregnancy. They want to go swimming in the pool and start looking for, finding out everything that is necessary and not necessary. From all sides they see all sorts of horror stories about infections, contamination. They also find various reviews about the pool during pregnancy, not the best ones. And let's load all this on their attending physician, what I want, he says, but I'm afraid. But is it true that it is impossible, and better not to? So the doctor is overly cautious, it happens. Although it may be that nothing prevents it at all.

I went to the pool during my entire pregnancy. I am very happy and recommend it to everyone! I did not get a single infection. But I felt great from swimming, I did not gain much extra weight thanks to swimming and the birth was also easy. IMHO, the benefits of the pool are definitely greater than the harm. And the baby is completely safe, there is a plug and everything is securely closed. Neither chlorine nor any infection can get in.

• Yana

The body of a pregnant woman in water is almost weightless, the load on the musculoskeletal system decreases and is good for the veins. It helped me with my predisposition very well. And

In addition to the benefits for the mother, the pool is also useful for the baby before birth. They say that diving is also useful for the baby, since when the mother holds her breath, the baby learns to do without oxygen for some time. This can be useful for him during the birth process.

• Faith

As for chlorine, I can say that it is in all swimming pools, no matter what anyone says. A friend of mine worked in an elite club, and she told me that although they allegedly have a special ozonizing water purification system, it is completely chlorine-free. They even had a certificate confirming this. And chlorine is everywhere, the amount just varies. In swimming pools for groups of pregnant women and for mothers with babies, the water is just a little less chlorinated. But it is still enough for disinfection.

• Nadine

I have only the best reviews about the pool during pregnancy! Many of my friends are also very happy, who attended groups for expectant mothers. And until I went myself, I imagined something like lessons in proper breathing during childbirth and some splashing in the water for people of pre-retirement age. It turned out that aqua aerobics for pregnant women is such a load that it will not seem like a little! It is great for the figure - it helps to stay at your weight, although the belly is growing.