{"id":15223,"date":"2022-06-20T10:00:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-20T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=104671"},"modified":"2022-06-20T10:20:11","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T08:20:11","slug":"can-you-go-swimming-when-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/can-you-go-swimming-when-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you go swimming when pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By 220 Triathlon Team\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 20 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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If you\u2019ve recently had the exciting news that you\u2019re expecting a baby, you may be left wondering if you can still go swimming when pregnant.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a common question, particularly for those of you that have been swimming regularly as part of your triathlon training. So we\u2019re going to answer it here with the help of Sportdoc London<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s Dr Cath Spencer-Smith and ZONE3<\/a><\/strong> athlete and swim coach Kim Halton-Farrow<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking about her experiences swimming while pregnant, Kim says: \u201cThe world of swimming is an environment of freedom, exploration and weightlessness \u00ad\u2013 the perfect recipe for a mum-to-be like myself!<\/p>\n

\u201cJust before that life-changing morning in our kitchen when we were delighted to see two lines on the pregnancy test, I was sea swimming in November in my costume<\/a><\/strong> and a bobble hat, taking on the Her Spirit Winter Swim Challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy pro triathlete swim training quickly changed to a more leisurely approach. The feeling of weightlessness is an absolute joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to hand over to Dr Cath Spencer Smith to explain the ins and outs of swimming when pregnant\u2026<\/p>\n

Is it safe to go swimming when you\u2019re pregnant?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Credit: ZONE3<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The vast majority of people can go swimming while pregnant. Very occasionally we say there are some people who shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Some women who have maybe had trouble with losing babies in the past, they might have to have a little stitch put into their cervix. We tend to tell these people to stay out of swimming pools and water. A public swimming bath is probably alright, but if people wanted to go wild swimming the issue is about infection.<\/p>\n

If people aren\u2019t sure, or they\u2019ve had a high-risk pregnancy (see box-out below for a list of examples) or a miscarriage in the past, we say always get advice from your obstetrician. That\u2019s probably sensible advice to say to everybody.<\/p>\n

Having said that, it\u2019s a pretty low-risk activity. For regular swimming, it\u2019s really unusual for us to say to people that they shouldn\u2019t swim.<\/p>\n

Is it okay to swim in cold and open water while pregnant?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Credit: ZONE3<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Anyone who we\u2019d consider a high-risk pregnancy or have any medical problems, probably you\u2019ll want to play it safe.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a lot of BS about cold water in the sense that people say, \u2018you shouldn\u2019t go into cold water, you\u2019re pregnant.\u2019 Thankfully the foetus is naturally incredibly selfish and has its own beautiful placenta, all tucked away and is really central in the body. So it\u2019s really unlikely cold water is going to chill the babe or reduce placental flow.<\/p>\n

Having said that, when you go into cold water the first thing you do is hyperventilate a little bit and your blood pressure will naturally go up because your peripheries constrict a little and that raises your blood pressure.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019ve had any issues about blood pressure or protein in urine then you probably shouldn\u2019t be in cold water, but the vast majority of people will be okay.<\/p>\n

The natural concern is that some people may feel a little bit faint, so I would always say to somebody who\u2019s pregnant not to swim alone.<\/p>\n

I probably wouldn\u2019t take it up during pregnancy, but if you\u2019re already cold-water swimming there\u2019s normally no reason to stop.<\/p>\n

Examples of a high-risk pregnancy:<\/strong><\/h4>\n