Swimmers?

Miggg

I think there are a few swimmers on here, anyone still swimming? I swam competitively through my childhood, HS and college - long-distance free and fly. My MW recommended swimming as a good alternative to running for my back and pelvic pain. I got in the water though and... it sucked. Both butterfly and breastroke hurt like hell and it was just generally an uncomfortable experience. I stuck to mostly backstroke since that felt the best but then I read that backstroke isn't recommended after first tri..? Is that legit or just fear-mongering BS? I scoured the internets trying to find a moderate pre-natal workout, like 2-4,000 yards, but couldn't find anything.

Anyone have any workouts that have been working for them?

AnnieA75

I absolutely love to swim. DD had her first swim lesson of the Winter session last Saturday, so I swam laps afterwards and plan to do so every Saturday for as long as I can keep it up. I'd never heard that about not doing backstroke after the first trimester. Hmmm, I'll google it, but I'm hoping it's not true.

I swam for about a half hour doing freestyle, backstroke, and a few laps of breast stroke. I felt no pain at all, which is a switch from my ankles or back hurting when I jog or do the elliptical. The only issue I had was that I got winded pretty quickly and had to swim much slower than I'm used to.

Rocknroll64

Hey! I have been swimming since 9 weeks.  I swim with a swimming club though so I get my workouts made for me.  I think the backstroke thing is BS, all swimming strokes are supposed to be a good and safe workout during pregnancy, I just try not to overdue it or push myself to hard.

I also swam competitively when I was younger and my fav stroke was fly.  I find that I can't do butterfly any more though, not just because I'm pregnant but because I seriously have no muscle any more and I get super tired after only doing it for a few metres.

mileswithmyles

I used to be a swimmer, but haven't  been in the water yet during pregnancy.  I may switch to it soon because running is getting a lot harder!

glowworm0166

I've been swimming once a week.  I've been sticking to free and breaststroke but added in back last night.  (What was the reason for not doing backstroke after first tri?  Is it the thought that it is the same as laying on your back i.e. reduced blood flow?  Seems a little bit of a stretch unless you are planning to swim backstroke for about 20 minutes at a time...)  I'm staying away from fly because it just seems awkward.  Our masters team practices at the same time that I've been swimming and they have printouts of their workout so I've been swiping one and doing the same workout as their slow group but I stop after an hour (about 2,000 yards in an hour which seems to be a decent workout but not overly tiring).  Maybe google masters workouts??

EmilyGolden1

Because I am a child---I thought you meant sperm---

lv2011

I miss being in a pool sooooo much. I was a distance freestyle and backstroker. Fly killed my shoulders, and I can't do breaststroke with a hip replacement (or I'm not supposed to). I would love to be in the pool every day, but I just don't have it in the budget for a gym membership so I can have access.

Oh, that sounds so nice right now

boymum2014

lv2011 said:

I would love to be in the pool every day, but I just don't have it in the budget for a gym membership so I can have access.

Oh, that sounds so nice right now

Look up local pools,I'm not a gym member either & don't want the fees but I found a local pool used by a college which has open swim times,and it's $1.50 each time!

Miggg

@glowworm0166 Yeah the reasoning I read was basically the same as the reasoning for not laying on your back outside the water for too long, reduced blood flow etc. So that made me a little paranoid since I'd done about 45 min of back.. Backstroke didn't feel bad though with the water's support so I really can't believe that it's really equivalent to laying on your back on land.

Agree with you @mz628 - swimming just feels...weird with a belly. Stiff and tight and weird.

That's awesome that you're swimming with a club @rocknroll64 and started in first tri. That's probably a big part of my problem, I didn't try swimming until I'd put on 30 pounds and developed a bad back and pelvis!

I'll look into some masters workouts, I'm sure there are a few easy free/back workouts that I could start with.

Thanks ladies!

ecinereb

I'm a completely recreational swimmer and I've been a few times this pregnancy but hoping to get in the pool more regularly. I just do freestyle and use the kickboard.

I guess if I was used to swimming more competitively it would feel weird but I find I feel really good in the water.

JAM85

I am starting swimming up again sice we moved- I was a distance freestyler (mile/800) from age 5 to 20 and have done triathalons and open water swims since. I usually have a mix and match 2000-2400 yard workout I do: 4x200 alter free/pull/kick/free 12x75 back/breast/free 3x200 pull 200 warm down

drae86

I am only 11 weeks now but have been swimming my whole life (competitively). Last year I did a couple open water swims and am signed up for one this May where I'll be 6 months....not sure about all that I know I can hang back from the start and just swim per my usual. I am competitive tho and can see it starting and me wanting to race. I've been doing 2800-3200 yards a few times a week thus far. But I dont have a belly yet so hopefully i will be able to continue!

stephierd81

I swam competivelt years ago in high school and swam for exercise pre preg. I love getting in the water but as my breathing has gotten shallower I've mainly been doing kick board. I can still tell it's reduced my swelling of my feet and it feels great. I'm a nurse so work on my feet all day so just being in the water feels wonderful at end of day.

kat8805

drae86 said:

I am only 11 weeks now but have been swimming my whole life (competitively). Last year I did a couple open water swims and am signed up for one this May where I'll be 6 months....not sure about all that I know I can hang back from the start and just swim per my usual. I am competitive tho and can see it starting and me wanting to race. I've been doing 2800-3200 yards a few times a week thus far. But I dont have a belly yet so hopefully i will be able to continue!

Do you understand that this is a board for women due to have their babies in May of 2014? You may want to go find your own Birth Month Board. Obviously, this is not it.

CaliVal

I've been swimming 2-3 times a week and just now am not able to do flip turns which sucks. Otherwise I've been swimming pretty much the same.