I am pregnant in my first week!!!...but got questions as I am a keen masters swimmer and now have to go it alone for 9 months, as clubs make me naturally competitive and anti-natal classes for now are a wee bit slower than what I'd really wish to go - here my questions:
1. I can't find any info on the internet on whether or not doing a flip turn whilst being in the early stages of pregnancy would pose a risk to the fetus? How long into pregnancy did you go if you were continuing doing flips - just out of interest!?...
2. Also, does holding your breath on the flip (like going anaerobic for that short period) - is this a risk too? I've just improved massively on my turns with being able to hold my breath longer for the turn...so a bit of a shame if I have to go back to 'opens', - but not if it poses a risk to my baby!
3. I know that pregnant women should take it easy and NOT get 'out of breath'. I want to continue my swimming up to 3km or so gently in freestyle to maintain my fitness level. Obviously keeping well hydrated is number one, but I always have a big bottle of water/energy drink with me at all swims no matter what and hydrate before and after any workout.
4. I read that swimming pool environments, i.e: chlorine etc. could be a negative risk to the developing fetus and could cause miscarriage. Have any of you thought the same, what is your view on this - did it put you off? I think keeping swimming is better than NOT - hec everything around us poses a risk to the growing baby and I would be rather unhappy if I had to give up swimming completely - I love it to bits!!
Thanks for your time....
Parents
Former Member
Hello I am 27 weeks along with first baby. I have swam the entire pregnancy-but have learned alot too. First of all, my doctors don't know much about competitive swimming and how swimmers train. They just don't. I decided, because I had two previous miscarriages, that I was going to look at the nine months as a maintenance time and not a performance improving time. The first trimester, I kept my heart rate under 140. I did this b/c of my age and miscarriage risk, not b/c of anything else. I know swimmers who swam "as normal" and didn't change a thing. Also, I couldn't do fly and still can't ( I am 400 IM swimmer). I had too much nausea, and then too much cramping to swim correctly, so I just do one arm. My legs cramp easily now, and My stomach cramps as well. I drink lots of water, and have switched to more pulling and fin kicking which has lessened the cramping. My weights and dryland were reduced to 50% of what i did before. Remember, you can train like crazy after a healthy delivery. I am still doing flip turns, but notice my breastroke kick is "too loose" from ligament changes-so I have to be careful. To be honest, I am NOT comfortable swimming b/c my body has changed and feels awkward-thus, my technique is off as well. hope this helps
Hello I am 27 weeks along with first baby. I have swam the entire pregnancy-but have learned alot too. First of all, my doctors don't know much about competitive swimming and how swimmers train. They just don't. I decided, because I had two previous miscarriages, that I was going to look at the nine months as a maintenance time and not a performance improving time. The first trimester, I kept my heart rate under 140. I did this b/c of my age and miscarriage risk, not b/c of anything else. I know swimmers who swam "as normal" and didn't change a thing. Also, I couldn't do fly and still can't ( I am 400 IM swimmer). I had too much nausea, and then too much cramping to swim correctly, so I just do one arm. My legs cramp easily now, and My stomach cramps as well. I drink lots of water, and have switched to more pulling and fin kicking which has lessened the cramping. My weights and dryland were reduced to 50% of what i did before. Remember, you can train like crazy after a healthy delivery. I am still doing flip turns, but notice my breastroke kick is "too loose" from ligament changes-so I have to be careful. To be honest, I am NOT comfortable swimming b/c my body has changed and feels awkward-thus, my technique is off as well. hope this helps
