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?
Former Member
Why would people hate you?
We've had multiple pregnant women swimming at our pool and I think it's wonderful! Each had one a one-piece, but I certainly wouldn't care if they wore a 2-piece. They certainly didn't have to worry about sinking!
We have lap "swimmers" of all types here and they are all welcome...even the woman who wouldn't let me share her land the other day because she has breathing problems. No biggie. Everyone is there for a different reason.
Swimming is a wonderful, low impact exercise for anyone, especially when you're pregnant. I wish I had that option when I was preggers.
Congratulations and I wish you a healthy labor and delivery!
My little one will be 1 soon, and I read your post w/a nice sense of reminiscence, for I swam a great deal during pregnancy. I found that people both at masters practice and at my local pool were quite kind about sharing a lane w/me when swimming. From what I recall, many seem to look sweetly at the 'pregilicious' body (great term, by the way), and people will very likely admire you for your committment to staying active. I don't think you have anything to fear by going swimming, and my bet is that you'll find that this is one of the times that other swimmers will be a bit more courteous to you.
Best of luck to you!
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:
Birthing in a pool would also be a very natural thing. I would not have a problem with you swimming pregnant I even have suggested it to pregnant women to keep swimming as long as they felt the were not swimming during labour.
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."
Definitely agree with the above (as I previously mentioned), and excellent suggestion for the pool etiquette!
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.
I've seen actual "birthing pools" for this, but I have more so seen/heard of people giving birth in lakes or ponds, etc...
Go and swim. My suggestion is to fins a cheap very stretchy suit and wear it out. The swim school where I work had two pregnant teachers a while back. Nobody will criticize your pregnant shape. And swimming is something you can do right up to the end of your pregnancy. It will feel good to get that weight off on the water.
Enjoy the pool!
A two-piece or tankini with elastic under the bust might offer more support than a one-piece.
Most people feel a little bit of awe and wonder at the sight of a pregnant woman. I suspect that the rare person who finds a pregnant body disgusting has so many "issues" with the human body in general that he/she is probably not going to go to a public pool and put on a swimsuit.
Go and swim. My suggestion is to fins a cheap very stretchy suit and wear it out. !
That's what I was going to suggest, too. I never wore a maternity suit during my pregnancy. I wore a regular Nike 1-piece and just wore it out. As for what people will think. Well, there are some non-pregnant people at my pool that swim like you described and no one hates them or says anything negative about them. I say go for it.
There's a pregnant woman at my pool (unless she's had the baby. I haven't seen here in a week or so) and she's very fast.
In swimming I've noticed people are far less critical about people's bodies than in either cycling or running. Especially cycling where it seems like one is considered a "poser" if they don't conform to some kind of formula involving one's body mass and the cost of their bicycle.
