Exercise during pregnancy can help moms-to-be stay fit and healthy. Low impact exercises like walking, yoga and swimming are best for expectant moms, but can you go in a river when pregnant? Swimming in your local pool is a great idea, but open water swimming can be risky. If the natural waters are calling you, keep reading to find out how to swim safely in a river when you’re expecting.
So Can you Go in a River when Pregnant?
Going in a river during pregnancy is perfectly fine, but you would need to follow the safety steps since it is open water.
Is it safe to swim in a river while pregnant? Swimming during pregnancy has many benefits. If you don’t have a local pool, you may be wondering if you can take your growing bump for a swim in a nearby river. Open water swimming is not as safe as swimming in a pool, as the water is untreated and can carry harmful bacteria and diseases. However, if you really want to float serenely in a river during your pregnancy, there are steps you can take to stay as safe as possible.
Benefits of Swimming While Pregnant
It can be tempting to just quit exercise when you become pregnant. After all, you are a sacred vessel for a growing life now, you deserve to take it easy. Of course, rest and relaxation is essential during pregnancy, but keeping up with a regular exercise regime is important too.
With morning sickness, aching joints and all of the extra weight, your regular spin class or HIIT workout may feel like too much. It’s totally understandable if you don’t want to be running to the bathroom to puke between deadlift reps in the gym. That’s where swimming comes in to save the day.
The many benefits of swimming during pregnancy include:
- You feel weightless (well, almost). In the water your baby bump will be supported, giving your back, hips and joints a chance to rest. Even at nine months pregnant, you will still be able to float and ease your aching muscles in the pool.
- There is less risk of falling or injury. If you are a weight class kind of gal, you will likely be sad to hear you will have to watch how much you’re lifting now you’re pregnant. Also, there is the risk of falling while running or running out of steam more quickly than usual during your Peloton workout and becoming dizzy. Swimming is low impact and the risk of injury is small.
- It is good preparation for labor. Even a gentle swim will work all of the key muscle groups in the body and help to build strength and endurance. The fitter you are during your pregnancy, the more stamina you will have for labor and delivery. We won’t lie and say swimming fifty lengths every week during pregnancy will give you a pain free birth, but it might help to make the process less exhausting and challenging.
- Swimming helps to ease stress and anxiety. A few laps of breaststroke or just gently floating on your back can help to ease your mom-to-be worries. Gentle swims can be a wonderful mindfulness exercise, you can just focus on moving through the water, putting your fears about labor and sleep deprivation aside for a little while.
Can You Go Swimming in a River When Pregnant?
As you can see, swimming during pregnancy is not only safe but beneficial too. However, there are risks to swimming with your growing bump, especially if you are planning on going in a river, lake or the sea.
Rivers can carry bacteria and diseases. These germs can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women, as during this time the immune system is not working as efficiently as usual.
Did you know, rivers can contain fecal particles and other gross – and harmful – germs? You wouldn’t get in the swimming pool with a poop floating around would you? The same caution should be taken when swimming in natural open water.
The main risks of swimming in a river while pregnant include:
- Catching water-borne illnesses. Diseases and bacteria found in water sources include Cryptosporidium, Norovirus, E-Coli, Shigella and Giardia.
Water-borne illness can cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Germs found in rivers can also lead to infections, putting both mom and baby at risk of becoming severely unwell and in need of hospital treatment. - Strong currents can be dangerous. When you are swimming in the pool, the water is calm and predictable, unless there are kids dive bombing in the deep end that is. However, a river can appear calm on the surface but there could be strong currents underneath.
Currents can increase your risk of falling over and becoming injured. Also, you will tire more quickly when pregnant, making it more difficult to maintain the energy needed to swim in fast flowing water. - The water can be too cold. Swimming in cold water can cause your core temperature to drop dangerously low. If you become too cold, hypothermia can set in and this can put both you and your baby’s life at risk.
Swimming pools are heated to a specific temperature, but the same can’t be said for natural open water. You may want to reconsider your river swim during the colder months and stick to a prenatal aqua aerobics class instead.
Can You Float in the River When Pregnant?
Floating in the river is safe during pregnancy. In fact, allowing the water to hold your weight can help to ease aches and pains all over the body. Floating is possible with a baby bump and it is a great way to reduce blood pressure and stress.
If you have been wondering, is it safe to float in the river while pregnant? – the answer is yes. Floating isn’t dangerous for your growing baby but you should avoid floating in fast moving rivers. Basically, don’t lie back and relax in a strong current – but this should be the rule for everyone, not just those with a baby on board!
How to Stay Safe While Swimming in a River
If you are going to risk the germs and go for a swim in the river, there are a few precautions you can take to keep you and your baby as safe as possible. Unless you are going to sample test the water, you are not going to know for sure what diseases – if any – it is carrying. Therefore, it is always best to err on the side of caution.
Here are some top tips for swimming in rivers during pregnancy:
- Never swallow any river water
- Shower before and after entering the river
- Do not go swimming if your waters have broken
- Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any symptoms of water-borne illnesses
- Wear anti-slip footwear to keep you safe when walking on wet rocks and stones
- Avoid water that is too cold or too hot
- Stop swimming before you become tired. Energy levels can drop quickly during pregnancy and it is not safe to become exhausted when swimming in open water
Wrapping Up
Swimming is an effective way to look after your physical and mental wellbeing during pregnancy. Research shows that regular trips to the pool can help to reduce the stress levels, blood pressure, aches and pains of moms-to-be.
So swimming pools are fine, but can you go in a river when pregnant? Well, now you know that the answer is yes. Open water swimming is more risky but if you avoid swallowing any of the water or floating off downstream, you can safely enjoy a relaxing river swim.
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