Today while I was swimming a swimming instructor approached me to ask about what a pregnant woman, taking swim instruction, had just told him. I think that I was approached because he knows me and because I'm a woman, thus I should have an opinion on the following.
This woman he is instructing had been told by her OB/GYN that doing breaststroke a lot would excessively strengthen certain muscles (which ones I am not sure) when would then keep her from dilating properly in labor.
This sounded fishy to me, but hey, I'm no expert breaststroker. I am inclined to think that most physical exercise precautions heard from OB/GYN's are overly cautious.
So, breaststroker women, what say you? I would think that it is far fetched that breaststroke could have such an effect, but I'm open to learning.
I have a friend who swam extensively throughout her pregnancy, and she found breaststroke to be uncomfortable toward the end due to the kick, but that was just a comfort thing.
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That's news to me... How would breaststroke kick affect dilation?
Dilation happens when a pregnant woman's body is good and ready for it to happen! Having stronger leg, hip and core muscles from swimming and kicking breaststroke would not in itself make dilation impossible or stall once started.
My philosophy on swimming while pregnant is this: if it hurts when you do it, don't do it. If it feels good and comfortable and you're getting enough oxygen, do it. The baby will make its grand entrance when it's ready!
Dilation is one of those "magical" things that our bodies do. I've heard of women who rapidly dilate, some who slowly dilate and then rapidly dilate near the end, some who slowly dilate and then stop completely, and some who fail to dilate at all despite doing all the things that are recommended to start dilation on/after 40 weeks gestation (walking, and other stuff I'd be embarrassed to mention here...)
That's news to me... How would breaststroke kick affect dilation?
Dilation happens when a pregnant woman's body is good and ready for it to happen! Having stronger leg, hip and core muscles from swimming and kicking breaststroke would not in itself make dilation impossible or stall once started.
My philosophy on swimming while pregnant is this: if it hurts when you do it, don't do it. If it feels good and comfortable and you're getting enough oxygen, do it. The baby will make its grand entrance when it's ready!
Dilation is one of those "magical" things that our bodies do. I've heard of women who rapidly dilate, some who slowly dilate and then rapidly dilate near the end, some who slowly dilate and then stop completely, and some who fail to dilate at all despite doing all the things that are recommended to start dilation on/after 40 weeks gestation (walking, and other stuff I'd be embarrassed to mention here...)
