Is it safe to swim in lake water?

ERINPETERSON · July 2011

Hello ladies Last night my family and I finalized our trip for next week to our vacation home in the Lake of the Ozarks and my aunt told me I should ask my doctor about swimming in lake water. She said there may be an issue with contaminating my baby if I were to leak fluid? I was a little confused but figured she may have a valid point. Have any of you asked your doctors if you can swim in the lake this far along in your pregnancy? If yes was there any concern?

Thanks in advance

KAK ;-> · July 2011

The only way that would happen is if your water had broken...in which case I doubt you'd be hanging out in the lake. I wouldn't swim in a polluted lake but I'm sure the ozarks are fine.

Lindsaywillo · July 2011

What!?!?! Seriously, swimming in a lake? I could be wrong but I have never heard of this....who comes up with this stuff? What else do we pregnant ladies have to worry about!?!?! We should just stay inside a bubble for 9 months!

ERINPETERSON · July 2011

Lindsaywillo:
What!?!?! Seriously, swimming in a lake? I could be wrong but I have never heard of this....who comes up with this stuff? What else do we pregnant ladies have to worry about!?!?! We should just stay inside a bubble for 9 months!

Well thats what I was thinking? I had never heard that pregnant women couldn't swim in lake water? I thought it was silly but figured I may as well ask! It does feel like pregnant women need to live in a bubble because everything is dangerous for us supposedly...

AF_EOD_wife · July 2011

My mother swam in Lake of the Ozarks for most of her pregnancy with me and my twin.

We're all perfectly fine. Enjoy, and think of me when you hit up the outlet malls. I'm originally from the Lake area and I miss it!

airforcewife331 · July 2011

When I got my huge folder full of info. from my obgyn it did say not to swim in lake water, but didn't give a reason why. I'd say better say than sorry--check with your doctor and see what he/she says

bradandjackie · July 2011

Lindsaywillo:
What!?!?! Seriously, swimming in a lake? I could be wrong but I have never heard of this....who comes up with this stuff? What else do we pregnant ladies have to worry about!?!?! We should just stay inside a bubble for 9 months!

hahaha!! Yeah, I've heard of many OBs suggesting women avoid lake water just because it can be kinda yucky and we're all more succesptible to any sort of infection. I ignored all that and I've hit the lake at 3 wks, 12 wks 24 and 26 wks. So far no infection here...

Yellow_Daisy · July 2011

I would imagine that as long as your cervix is long and closed it wouldn't be a problem, but I have heard that if your cervix has started to change you shouldn't swim in certain bodies of water due to risk of infection. If I was going well into my 3rd tri I would double check with my doc, just to be safe, it certainly can't hurt to ask.

Jynx23 · July 2011

In one of my pregnancy books it says that it is not safe to swim in freshwater lakes due to a risk of infection. I asked my doctor about it and she said it was fine as long as your water hasn't broken.

cburitz · July 2011

Haha!!

I'm still swimming in local lakes and I'm 39w2d. As long as your water hasn't broken, you're fine.

Enjoy your summer.

blu-eyedwife · July 2011

We just got back from Tahoe and I certainly went in the lake. No ill effects to me or baby.

zhirsch · July 2011

I think it greatly depends on what kind of lake you're talking about. I probably wouldn't swim in a small fishing lake, but I probably wouldn't do that not pregnant either. The smaller the body of water the higher the concentration of toxins from run-off and other pollutants. I'm from Michigan so I feel like swimming in Lake Michigan or any of the Great Lakes would be fine because of their size.

Annabelle81 · July 2011

zhirsch:
I think it greatly depends on what kind of lake you're talking about. I probably wouldn't swim in a small fishing lake, but I probably wouldn't do that not pregnant either. The smaller the body of water the higher the concentration of toxins from run-off and other pollutants. I'm from Michigan so I feel like swimming in Lake Michigan or any of the Great Lakes would be fine because of their size.

I live near Lake Michigan and would not swim near our beach if I wasn't pregnant! OP, check on the water conditions of the lakes you are going to. If they have issues... I wouldn't do it, bacteria, infections, etc. I'm sure most lakes are safe, but some of the beaches in my area are not.

ShawMich · July 2011

Well, let's hope not. I've been swimming in the lake quite a few times when we went camping.

I think you are safe. If you are concerned, definitely ask your doctor.

hisbeautyalways · July 2011

(lurking)

My SIL at the end of her pregnancy went in the lake (a small one in Michigan), and talked to her doctor. Her OB said "As long as you're not just sitting around in pond scum, it's fine."

That said, make sure the water's in good shape first. Baby is protected until your water breaks.

megd06 · July 2011

Crash Into Me:

Lake of the Ozarks has issues with e. coli contamination. I know parts of the lake have closed each summer for the past few years.

It's not a leaking fluid issue, the lake water can get into your mouth, ears, eyes, nose, open wounds and the e. coli can infect your system.

Google Lake of the Ozarks contamination and that will pull up plenty of reading for you.

This. It's not just if your water has broken that you need to be careful--if you get an infection from the water it can be dangerous for your baby.

Nita2603 · July 2011

I just got back from a trip to the lakes and I am fine. If the lake is not polluted, I would go for it.

jaredandjenny · July 2011

I asked my doctor about this earlier in my pregnancy. She said not to swim in the lakes (I actually asked her about being on the boat, and she threw in the not swimming part). She said it was because of the risk of parasites. Around here early in the summer there is a risk of chiggers.

ERINPETERSON · July 2011

Well I just got back from my doctors appointment and was told that it is in fact ok to swim in lakes as long as you dont allow water to go in your ears mouth etc. He said just avoid having my head under water which is fine because I am a floater anyways

Thanks to all of you moms/mommies to be for all your responses!!!! Wishing you all happy healthy pregnancies

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