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....
Former Member
Congratulations!!!!! How exciting!! I'm yet another mommy who has kept swimming through pregnancy (actually, one of my pregnancies is what brought me back to swimming--I needed a low impact way to stay fit). Anyways, it sounds like you are taking a sensible approach to all this. Just remember to stay well-hydrated.
When the time comes, I just bet you will breeze through labor & delivery!
Why would you stop working out at this time? It is good for both of you. Listen to your body & enjoy. A lady that was 7 mos finally slowed down to our lane's pace!!My wife ran thru all 9 mos. WOW - she weighed almost as much as me!!
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
I was not a swimmer when I was pregnant, because I did not learn until my youngest was 7. I did work-out a lot during pregnancy, doing cario work, lifting weights and such. However, rule of thumb with exercise, do what you are doing before(unless it is sky diving or something) and as the pregnancy progresses, modify what you need to as you grow. The kids had a coach who said swimming(she said it became more like floating by the 9th month), was wonderful therapy in the latter stages.
There was an article on this website by two friends of mine, Nadine Day and Dr Millie Nelson who covered pregnancy, and miscarriages and swimming and such. I think it would be a good read for you. After several tries, Nadine was pregnant at this time last year(she was so cute at High School sectionals), and delivered a beautiful baby.
Despite what people will tell you, pregnancies usually do not miscarry because of some form of exercise, it is because of a problem in the body that is likely beyond your control at that time. It sounds like this time, it is not your issue, and you will be fine.
