Hello All,

Ive been feeling knackered and stiff and sooo unfit and with the weather being so horrible I havent been able to get out for many walks. So we hit the swimming pool, I stepped into the water and Im not exaggerating, every ache and pain melted away, I felt floaty-light and fantastic. I was careful not to stretch too hard and pull any muscles but I felt like I had had some really good exercise, plus my OH is determined to overcome his fear of the water so we can go the pool as a family when little one arrives and tonight he swam for the very first time and I'm so proud of him!

NOW FOR THE EXCITING BIT...! A midwife I was chatting to recently told me that the more you swim, the better the birth, and she even went so far as to assure me that swimming 2 or 3 times a week could reduce the pain of birth and make it all happen much faster! She said that research had been done into the benefit of strengthening the muscles of the back and how swimming exercises muscles that other activities dont, she said that swimming was the one big piece of advice she would give to any pregnant woman, much more important than any dietary advice!!

So, you can stay fit and spend an hour with no discomfort and feel fantastic afterwards, with the added bonus of deluding yourself that the baby will pop out easily! You still have to get from the changing room to the pool feeling like members of green peace might come and squirt you with water mistaking you for a beached whale, but honestly its worth squeezing into a swimsuit!

That's interesting. I've been fancying going swimming, so I just might get around to it now!

Thanks for this thread. I used to be quite active pre pregnant with walking hills and climbing.... but from the early weeks I just haven't had the energy. But 2 weeks ago I decided to go for a little swim to see if it would help ease the stretching pains I was getting on my bump. I only managed 2 lengths before I was out of breath and worrying if I was hurting baby. So I stopped. I went again this week and managed another 2 lengths, but I felt fine. I'm glad you've been told that swimming is good in pregnancy. I think all the worrying I was doing was causing me to panic and tense up. I'm going again next week, so I'll probably increase to 4, and then another 2 each week, and so on. I used to do 40 lengths pre pregnant.. can't see me doing that now tho. LOL.

Take care and enjoy your swimming! xx

Wow that's great news. I love swimming and try to go 2-3 times a week.

I've been going swimming lately, just to try and get a bit fitter, mainly because of the birth

Oooo thats good to know as my mate wanted me to start going with her on a tue, think i'll take up her offer now

Been meaning to get back into the pool. If only it wasn't winter and having chlorine wet hair. I'll make sure I go next week