Why You Should Consider Swimming While Pregnant

Although some people tend to be apprehensive about exercising while pregnant, maintaining a regular exercise routine during pregnancy is actually beneficial for your overall health. In fact, one of the best ways to stay active during pregnancy is by swimming. According to Verywell Family, swimming is a safe and relatively easy exercise to perform while pregnant. That's because swimming is a low-impact aerobic exercise, which means that there is no risk of high-impact injury. And since the body feels weightless in water, it makes it a lot easier to move around compared to other activities, like walking or riding a bike.

The only caveats are that you need to make sure any water you swim in is clean, and you should avoid swimming in very hot water while pregnant. As it turns out, overheating can potentially lead to complications during pregnancy. Fortunately, this mainly applies to hot tubs. The water in most pools is not too hot. 

Not only is swimming one of the safest ways to exercise while pregnant, it's also linked to a number of important health benefits. For example, swimming is a great way to relieve common aches and pains related to pregnancy. According to Healthline, being submerged in water can help alleviate pain and reduce swelling and discomfort associated with weight gain during pregnancy. In addition, swimming during pregnancy can improve your quality and quantity of sleep.

Aerobic exercise can help relieve stress and make you feel more relaxed, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Furthermore, Verywell Family notes that swimming while pregnant can help improve circulation and relieve some of the pressure on your body caused by your bump. Since swimming is a low-impact exercise, it's generally safe to do during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Just make sure you have a friend or lifeguard with you in case of emergency.