Swimming for pregnant women
Swimming is very relaxing when you are pregnant. You feel light in the water, it improves circulation to your whole body and boosts oxygen levels in your blood. Swimming can benefit you – and your baby – by strengthening your heart and making it more efficient at pumping. As one of the safest forms of exercise for expectant moms, here are some of the benefits of swimming:
• It works both of your large muscle groups (arms and legs).
• It's low impact and gentle on your body. The water keeps you from overheating and prevents injury by supporting your
joints and ligaments as you exercise, which is especially helpful for moms-to-be with round ligament pain. The buoyancy
of the water lets you enjoy a feeling of weightlessness despite the extra pounds of pregnancy.
• It counteracts increased back strain from your expanding belly. Pregnancy can make your spine and shoulders round
forward and tilt your pelvis out of alignment, but swimming gently strengthens the muscles and offsets this tendency.
• It can help you keep your weight within a healthy range.
• Immersing yourself in water alleviates swelling in your arms and legs.