Many Benefits of Swimming When Pregnant, These Tips for Staying Safe

When pregnant, it does not mean you have to stop all physical activities such as sports. Just choose a sport that has many benefits and is safe for pregnant women, such as swimming. But, before swimming, pay attention to safe tips. Swimming is relatively safe for pregnant women, provided they have a healthy pregnancy. Swimming has a low risk of injury, because generally only requires light movements and can not make pregnant women fall.

Benefits of Swimming for Pregnant Women

During early pregnancy, maintaining health and fitness must always be done so that the body remains fit, both for the mother and for the fetus in the womb. Specifically, the benefits of swimming during pregnancy include:

• Improve circulation / blood circulation
• Improve heart and lung function
• Increase stamina and muscle strength
• Reducing fluid retention or buildup in body tissues which often causes pregnant women's feet to swell
• Burn excess calories
• Helps sleep better
• Overcome fatigue
• Relieves aches and pains.

Tips for Safe Swimming When Pregnant

Before swimming, don't forget to warm up and cool down when you're done. Perform all swimming movements slowly and carefully. Also enough consumption of your drink so that it is not easily weak and fatigue due to dehydration. Being in the water does not mean you reduce fluids, drink before, during and after swimming. For pregnant women, you should swim in a pool that has a water temperature of no more than 32 degrees Celsius. Actually, most swimming pools have temperatures below that, even have colder temperatures, except in special swimming pools. Here are tips for safe swimming for each trimester of pregnancy:

• First Trimester

To prevent nausea and make you more energized throughout the day in the first trimester of pregnancy, swimming is good in the morning. You can also do a variety of swimming styles to stay comfortable and enjoyable during practice.

• Second Trimester

Although your stomach gets bigger in the second trimester of pregnancy, swimming can still be done, because this exercise is a mild activity for pregnant women. When floating in the water, you can enjoy swimming backstroke, without having to worry about experiencing blood flow disorders that often occur when you are on your back.

• Third Trimester

In the last weeks of the third trimester pregnancy will usually feel more comfortable. You can try a variety of swimming styles that are most comfortable to do. A special swimsuit for pregnant women can already be used, which is useful for holding an enlarged abdomen.

What to Look For When Swimming

One of the things that is most feared by pregnant women when swimming is the chlorine content in swimming pools that can harm both mother and fetus. But until now there has been no evidence that shows that chlorine is the main cause of pregnant women having miscarriages, low birth weight babies, or neural tube defects. If you are used to swimming before pregnancy it is better and the habit can be continued while pregnant. However, do not be afraid, even if you are not accustomed to swimming, this sport is safe to do during pregnancy. But it never hurts to consult first with a doctor. To be safe, stretch your muscles before and after swimming, choose a light and comfortable swimming style so as not to hurt your neck, shoulders, or back muscles. Breaststroke is the best choice you can choose, because this style does not need to rotate the body or stomach. Be careful, when going into water and diving, you should avoid jumping which can pose a risk to pregnancy. So, you don't need to be afraid to move during pregnancy. You can do swimming by applying the tips above. If your muscles ache or tighten while swimming, you may experience muscle cramps. Immediately rest and climb from the pool. Be careful when leaving the pool, and use shoes or sandals that are not slippery when walking on wet surfaces.