Pregnancy workouts

Hi, I'd talk to your doctor about the heart rate range. The buzz is to keep it below 140, but my heart rate goes above that during a simple warmup. If I were to keep it below 140 I wouldn't be getting any sort of exercise at all! I've heard a better monitor of exertion is the talk test. That is, you should be able to keep up a conversation while working out. However, that's kind of a difficult thing to monitor when swimming, eh? I don't check my heartrate anymore. I simply slow down when I feel I'm overdoing it. Whatever you do, don't do any breath control drills! Congrats! -GG

I never had any trouble with flip turns all the way through my pregnancies. I think it's best to just try to do what you can and if it becomes difficult then back off. Actually, I found it easier during butterfly to do butterfly because of the added buoyancy! Workout suggestions: Go to the workout forum and just reduce the sets down to a level that fits your workout needs. Suggestion: KEEP SWIMMING. Don't stop.

I swam all last year while pregnant. I was swimming even up to two days before I had my baby. Swim what is comfortable for you. I read that you should keep a good watch on your heart rate. Depending on what shape you are in your heart rate should not go to much above 120-130. Other then that you do what is comfortable for you. I was able to swim all of my strokes including fly. I feel the exercise itself will help your pregancy in a lot of ways. Congratulations and best of luck with your wonderful baby. They are such a blessing in life.

Hi, I've had three kids in the last four years, my youngest is now 3 months old. I kept asking my coach to write a book about pregnancy and swimming! I certainly have enough material for him, as well as about 8 of my teammates! I just always did what was comfortable. With my first I couldn't kick *** but still swam regularly, with my second I swam a lot and could do all strokes (fly got tough at the end), and with number three I wore fins at the end (not to keep up with lane mates but because it was comfortable). With all three I could always do flipturns, except... with number three I went swimming on January 7th and couldn't do flipturns, it didn't hurt it just didn't "feel" right. Interestingly enough the next day I didn't swim and my water broke that night at 11:20! He was born January 8th, five weeks early, and spent 2 weeks in the intensive care nursery, although he's in perfect health now:) My advice is get in tune with your body (you probably already are) and really, really listen.

I'll share something funny, well I thought it was... Carrick was born 5 weeks early on January 8, 2004. That also happens to be Roque Santos' birthday. He's on our team. Obviously I was a little busy and didn't get his b-day card out on time. When I finally did though I asked him that if Carrick too would be an Olympian because he was born on his birthday. Then I added, "Yeah, probably in Rhythmic Gymnastics!"

Originally posted by Karen Duggan I just always did what was comfortable. With my first I couldn't kick *** but still swam regularly, with my second I swam a lot and could do all strokes (fly got tough at the end), and with number three I wore fins at the end (not to keep up with lane mates but because it was comfortable). With all three I could always do flipturns, except... with number three I went swimming on January 7th and couldn't do flipturns, it didn't hurt it just didn't "feel" right. Interestingly enough the next day I didn't swim and my water broke that night at 11:20! He was born January 8th, five weeks early, and spent 2 weeks in the intensive care nursery, although he's in perfect health now:) Ah, but the real questions are: Will they all end up being competitive swimmers? Will the first be good at everything but breaststroke? Will the second be good at everything but distance butterfly? Will the third train a lot with fins right before his big meets, and switch over to open turns near the end of his distance freestyle races but finish ahead of everyone else anyway? ;-) Bob

Too cute, I hope Carrick is doing well even though his appearance was early. And Wow, you are ready to compete at Nationals this soon after having him. Let's see, my first is a backstroke/flier/IMr, my second does nothing but breastroke. I had no idea when either were born that they would be swimmers as they did not get into it until later.

Karen, I had the same feeling with my second child but not with swimming. I was taking a walk with my first and I did not feel right, something was odd. It was a week early and my first was late so I had not gotten any supplies yet figuring I had plenty of time! My water broke that night.:)

I was hardly ever in the pool with my first child. There were no pools nearby where I lived at the time. Yet at the age of five she can swim all four strokes at least a full length of the pool. I think if she really wanted to she could do a 100 I.M. I was in the water working out all the time with my second one. Everytime I take her into the water she curls up next to me and looks like she is going to fall asleep. We'll have to see if she becomes a swimmer someday. She'll have to learn not to fall asleep in the middle of a swim. (just a note- she'll be one on Easter Sunday. I can't believe it's been a year already. It's amazing how time flies.)

I read your other post where your daughter cheered for you at your regional meet. How cute! I asked my four year old if he wanted to watch my race and he very casually said, "No, but do your best Mama." Gee thanks! I too wonder if my kids will be swimmers. I'm not going to force anything, besides being water safe. I want it to be fun. I, myself, didn't learn strokes until I was 10 and my husband 15. I think I'd like my kids to know the strokes a little earlier (like yours) and then they can decide for themselves if swimming is for them. It is truly amazing how fast they grow up. I don't want to miss any of it! Surprisingly (not!) I am finding that much of what my parents have said, as I grew up, is true. Darn!;) May I borrow your cheering section at Nationals? :)