Anyone started going swimming?

[Storm1jet2]

Afternoon all, I was just wondering if anyone has started going swimming now they are pregnant? To be perfectly honest the only exercise I get is walking my dog, I've never been into the gym or classes. Bizarrely though I have this terrible urge to go swimming! I'm not a great swimmer but I thought it might help ease my back and the dodgy hip I seem to be developing and it seems like a good low impact way go try and get some exercise now the MS comes and goes and isn't constant.

Anyone any advice?

 

[Wendyk07]

Now that my sister has finished for 6 weeks (she works in the schools) we plan to take DS swimming at least once per week. I have a degenerative problem with my back and am in constant pain so swimming will help me loads although i dont think i could take DS on my own just yet.

Wendy
x

 

[Storm1jet2]

Now that my sister has finished for 6 weeks (she works in the schools) we plan to take DS swimming at least once per week. I have a degenerative problem with my back and am in constant pain so swimming will help me loads although i dont think i could take DS on my own just yet.

Wendy
x

Thats lovely you have your sister to go with, I shall have to drag DH along, I don't have any sisters! I hope your DS enjoys it too - I am sure he will

 

[Wendyk07]

Now that my sister has finished for 6 weeks (she works in the schools) we plan to take DS swimming at least once per week. I have a degenerative problem with my back and am in constant pain so swimming will help me loads although i dont think i could take DS on my own just yet.

Wendy
x

Thats lovely you have your sister to go with, I shall have to drag DH along, I don't have any sisters! I hope your DS enjoys it too - I am sure he will

He loves the water so i am sure he'll have a ball. DH hates water so theres no way i would manage to get him to go. Shame.

 

[Lynw]

Hi
My local pool runs pre/post natal aqua classes 3 times a week and I really want to start. I'm 7+1 and have been getting nausea so it's put me off a bit so I was just going to wait a few more weeks before starting. I also have a degenerative back problem and my right hip has been agony for a couple of weeks but only when I'm in bed, towards early hours of the morning, so also hoping swimming would help that as it's no fun being exhausted and then not being able to sleep either due to pain!
I think it's a great idea - would love to take my mum along just for some company but not sure if they'll let her go to a pre/post natal class (although arguably she is post natal - just by about 24 years -lol) xx

 

[bbforme]

I swim about 4-5x a week with my 8yr old daughter. We spend A LOT of time in the pool, at least 2-hours a day, if not more.

Let me preface by stating before pregnancy, I suffered from back problems. Pregnancy has only made my back pain worse. Swimming doesn't do much to relieve my pain, and honeslty, my back is often stiff when I return home from the pool.

But, with all that said, swimming is the ONLY exercise I am getting right now so I plan to swim as long as I am comfortable in the water.

As a word of caution, there are times when I'll start to feel a bit of pulling/stretching when swimming for long periods of time - when that happens, I get out of the pool, drink some water and rest for at least 45-mins. I'm sure it's just muscles/ligament stretches but still...alway error on the side of caution! And be sure to step out of the pool carefully. I've noticed that I feel very heavy when coming out of the water and it sometimes throws off my balance. I step out of the pool in slow motion, just to gain my balance. Hope that helps!

 

[Storm1jet2]

Thanks for your responses ladies - I'm going to give it a go and see how I feel. Unfortunately I won't be able to get more than once or twice a week but its better than nothing

 

[BeachComber]

Oh yes I swim a lot in the ocean since we live within a very short distance to the beach and we will probably be spending a great deal of time in the water all summer!

 

[Lyvid]

Oh yes I swim a lot in the ocean since we live within a very short distance to the beach and we will probably be spending a great deal of time in the water all summer!

If I lived in FL I'd be swimming all the time too! Water in California is WAY too cold for this east coast girl!

 

[BeachComber]

Oh yes I swim a lot in the ocean since we live within a very short distance to the beach and we will probably be spending a great deal of time in the water all summer!

If I lived in FL I'd be swimming all the time too! Water in California is WAY too cold for this east coast girl!

Oh wow is it very cold?? I would have thought it would be warm like it is over here! That is terrible!

 

[Lyvid]

I lived in Orange County/LA area for 12 or so years and I think I went swimming in the ocean twice, just too cold! I recently moved to San Diego where it's a tiny bit warmer. My DH who grew up here in SD wears a wetsuit most of the time but he thinks it's warm enough at the end of summer to go without. By then it's about spring time temps in Fl. I used to live in Fl and since DH and I both love the beach and swimming I'm trying to convince him we need to move there. He's keen on the idea it's just finding a job right now, not likely!

 

[BeachComber]

That is true about the job situation! It is a mess here and everywhere! Sure hope someday you get to move here though! We have lived here for almost 4 years, moved down from the Midwest and just love it!

 

[Lyvid]

I hope so too! What a difference from the Midwest! Well, enjoy that lovely water for me

 

[Wind]

We live on Lake Erie. The water has been a little too cold for me so far this year but I may brave it next week. I miss swimming!!!!

 

[Storm1jet2]

DH and I went to the pool last night, it was a really lovely way to spend the evening. Its quite a drive to the pool, but its a good pool and it wan't too busy. I haven't swam in ages so it was slow and steady with much stopping and talking, I guess that was half the fun having time with DH out of the house. I didn't push it too far but even then when I went to bed my back was sore and my shoulders ached, I guess I just need more practice!

No chance of me swimming in the sea, I live in the UK and its FREEZING!

 

[Fallen Angel]

Hi Storm, swimming is fabulous, but if you have hip and / or pelvic pain you SHOULD NOT do the breast stroke kick with your legs, instead try and keep your knees together and do little waving moments, tilting your pelvis slightly.

I had a dodgy pelvis before pregnancy as I previously broke it in four places and during pregnancy developed SPD (now renamed Pelvic Girlde Pain) and swimming was such a relief for me after I broke my pelvis and now I'm pregnant.

If you can stand in the water at waist to chest height to support you - you can do gentle squats which helps with the pain and the water supports you.

Little pelvic tilts are great as well, but keep your knees together as much as possible when swimming.

I'm sure I should have been a mermaid, I love the water

I concur with what someone else said down the thread too - you feel sooo heavy when you come out of hte water though - but it's so worth it.

I spent an hour and a half in the pool yesterday as I knocked my pelvis out on Sunday and could barely walk.