First of all...I am not a masters participant. And uhmm...I don't even reguraly swim. I generally run, althought I hate it....uhhh but that's besides the point.
The point is, I'm pregnant with my first. And it's fall now so running is pretty much out of the question. (Asthma and intense uterine cramping. oh joy!)
But my gym at work has a lap pool and I all of a sudden remembered in while I was trying to make myself enjoy the thought of walking on a treadmill.
The point is....I want to know how much people are going to hate me for swimming.
I can't wear a one peice (well I guess I could get a maternity one but they fit horrible). And uh....excuse me...but my breasts are huge from being pregnant. And while I can swim just fine, I'm not a "swimmer" so I do a lap of crawl, a lap of backstroke, a lap of side stroke, a lap of butterfly...etc, etc. etc. Oh and I will often rest in between becuase...well it's hard enough work being pregnant, let alone swimming. lol.
So if you got into the pool and saw me in the lane next to you. Would you hate me for lolling about in a lane with my pregilicous body on display?
I feel kinda bad. I wish they would just give me a half a lane.
What should I do to minimize the hate?
OK, I'll be the disgusting typical male here, but since you mentioned your huge breasts, I'll offer to share my lane with you anytime! ;)
Seriously, though, as long as you follow pool etiquette, you won't have any problems.
And you may just like it enough to continue after the birth of your first...congrats btw.
Cheers,
Mike (dad of 4)
I don't see why people would hate you. You're trying to get some exercise while pregnant. I'd rather see a pregnant lady swimming than see a pregnant lady smoking or drinking (like so many stupid assholes do around here).
Thanks so much for the replies!! I really appreciate it. I just worried that people would be upset that I'm obviously not a hard core swimmer but am taking up valuable real estate in the pool. (kinda of a roll your eyes at me and complain about it in your head thing)
But it's def encouraging to hear that wouldn't be the case!! I'm so excited to get my stuff and swim tommorow. It will be soooo nice to feel weightless and like my hips aren't falling apart!!
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!! :wave:
Whenever I swim during an "open" lap swimming session at a pool, there are really very few "hard core" swimmers there. I bet you'll fit right in. If they have designated "slow" lanes try to get in one of them and try to stay out of the designated "fast" lanes. In any event, everybody who actually swims (rather than noodles) and is willing to split a lane should be more than welcome and won't be considered by anybody to be a waste of pool "real estate."
We have a woman on our team that is pregnant and swims. Right now she's wearing a one-piece suit. I have also swum laps at a pool with a woman who at the time was 8 months pregnant (she wore a two-piece suit). Both of these women were/are in amazing shape.
Welcome to the pool. Hope you stay awhile.
There are so few "hard core" swimmers at my pool that we are the ones that stand out. My pool is a veritable menagerie of body types and swimming styles. I even hesitate to use the term "swimming" because around half the people in the water at any given team are either water jogging or doing some odd flopping/rolling/dancing movement to get through the water.
We're used to seeing swimmers of all shapes and sizes in the pool. Go for it!
My only suggestion is to read this article about pool etiquette before you swim: www.usms.org/.../pooletiquette
No one is going to be upset about sharing the lane with a pregnant swimmer, but they will if you don't "follow the rules."
No one would hate you.
If you're self-respecting and respectful of others (i.e., lane etiquette and you "look before you leap") you will be more ---warmly--- welcomed than a lot of "Look at me making froth and windmilling while wondering why the US Olympic Committee didn't try to bribe me to captain their swim team or why Hollywood didn't ask me to be the Esther/Johnny Williams/Weissmuller of the 21st Century."
At the public pools where I swim there are (and have been) several pregnant ladies swimming ---at various levels--- in one or two-piece suits and they have all been welcomed and treated with the respect their demeanour demanded.
Birthing in a pool would also be a very natural thing.
Sounds good, George. We'll use the pool you swim in for this. I'd prefer the pools I use stay out of this business.
Definitely wouldn't hate you, and would most likely understand if you are resting in between. At my pool we have several pregnant women that swim laps and they do much of the same that you mentioned.
Also, try to look into pre and post natal aqua-aerobics...as an alternative way to get the workouts in.
