What are the benefits of swimming for pregnant women and what are the precautions

Can pregnant women swim? In fact, for healthy pregnant women who are 4 to 8 months pregnant, swimming can be said to be the safest and most effective. Don’t think that pregnant women can’t swim. Not only can pregnant women swim, but there are also many benefits to swimming for pregnant women!

Ten benefits of swimming for pregnant women:

1. The heavy pregnant uterus is supported by the buoyancy of water, which can reduce the burden on the lumbar and back muscles supporting the pregnant uterus, thereby alleviating or eliminating the common symptoms of low back pain during pregnancy.

2. It can reduce the pressure of the fetus on the rectum, promote blood return in the pelvis, eliminate blood stasis, and help prevent constipation, lower limb edema and varicose veins.

3. Increase lung capacity and allow mothers to hold their breath and push for a longer time during delivery, thus shortening the delivery process.

4. Regular swimming can gradually consume excess calories in the body and prevent pregnancy poisoning.

5. The change in the pregnant woman's body position in the water is conducive to correcting the fetal position and promoting normal delivery.

6. When swimming, all muscles in the body are involved in the activity; coupled with the "massage" of water on the skin and blood vessels, it can promote blood circulation, which not only enhances the physical fitness of pregnant women, but also is beneficial to the development of the fetus.

7. Swimming can also bring you the benefits of sunbathing. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight not only have a bactericidal effect, but can also convert subcutaneous dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D3. This vitamin can promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and is beneficial to the bone development of the fetus.

8. It can improve mood, relieve pregnancy reactions, reduce headaches during pregnancy, and also has a good effect on the development of the fetal nervous system.

10. Regular swimming can also help pregnant women maintain a healthy body shape, especially for body recovery after delivery.

Swimming precautions

Don't dive into the water. Diving may cause excessive impact on the abdomen, and exercises that squeeze and vibrate the abdomen should be avoided throughout pregnancy;

Do not jump feet first into the pool. Diving feet first can easily cause water to enter the vagina and cause infection. Diving can also easily cause impact to the abdomen. Enter the water slowly.

When swimming, there should be someone nearby or on shore to supervise.

The exercise time should not be too long, and you should not feel too tired when the exercise is over.

Please do not sit around in a wet swimsuit and do not borrow or rent a swimsuit for swimming. Bacteria also like sunshine, sand and water. The hotter and more humid it is, the faster the bacteria multiply. If you sit around in a wet swimsuit, bacteria can easily invade the vagina and multiply, causing vaginitis.

Things to note after swimming

Be sure to rinse your body thoroughly, but steam baths should be prohibited.

Urinate immediately to prevent vaginitis.

Use chloramphenicol eye drops to prevent eye infection.

The body surface temperature will drop after swimming, so you should keep warm.

Replenish fluids immediately after exercise.

If you feel abdominal pain or find bleeding after swimming, you should immediately consult a doctor or midwife.