Just a few decades ago doctors were telling their pregnant patients to take it easy, rest up and avoid unnecessary exertion. Today the story is quite different, and most women are encouraged to exercise during pregnancy. The benefits are clear: it’s good for your overall health and the health of your baby, burning extra calories helps you keep a healthy weight, and maintaining fitness and strength makes delivery and recovery easier. Exercise also usually helps you sleep better and feel generally happier and more energetic.
Swimming is an especially good way to exercise, for many reasons, and you can do it right up until your due date if you have no complications with your pregnancy. Here are the top five reasons to swim while pregnant:
Swimming does it all. If you’re expecting, chances are your life is becoming more complicated, so if you have limited time and want to simplify your exercise routine to focus on one sport that will boost your all-around fitness, swimming ticks all the boxes. It provides a full-body workout that uses all the major muscle groups, building strength, power and flexibility. It increases your endurance and your recovery capacity, and it strengthens your heart, improves your circulation and boosts your body’s ability to…
