Otherwise known as playing in the pool
As I’ve mentioned previously vacations are only successful for our family if this Born to Move Mom has an outlet for exercise. It’s always been this way, even in the era of our early dating motorcycle trips. I’ll admit I am not in the shape I was back then, but even as I waddle about with a belly throwing my posture off balance, a morning exercise routine still makes or breaks even a vacation day.
This week I am enjoying the California desert heat with my two favorite travel mates. The sun feels divine and the family time is precious. My normal routine for this biannual trip is an early morning jog or long walk, and yoga on the lawn. Yesterday a short walk and stretching did not alleviate the discomfort in my hips and low back, but the pool did.
I craved being in a pool when I was pregnant with Louisa, but my short confession is that I don’t really know how to technically swim. Sure I grew up on a lake jumping off a rope swing every summer and can probably tread water longer than most, but if you asked me to show you a breast stroke I would probably ask you to show me yours first.
This pregnancy the water craving came back. Luckily Louisa and I spend one day a week in the pool. She learns to blow bubbles and use big arms and legs, as I swirl my hips and enjoy the buoyancy. Yesterday when I immersed myself in the pool everything felt better. I wished I could do a lap or two, but I didn’t even know where to begin. Jim coached me through a few basic techniques, which did get my heart rate up. There was no grace in my performance, but my hips were happy for the rest of the day.
Someday I’ll learn to glide across the pool in one straight line, but for now I’ll enjoy the therapeutic effect that the pool is bringing to my ever growing pregnant body.
Benefits of Swimming During Pregnancy
- Improves muscle strength
- Increases cardiovascular endurance & oxygen efficiency
- Improves blood circulation
- Low impact activity alleviates pressure on joints
- Reduces risk of injury from the hormone relaxin’s effect on ligaments and bones
- May lower anxiety & stress levels
- Sense of lightness during a time when the body feels heavy
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