When you're pregnant, taking care of yourself becomes an even bigger priority. Self-care is important not only for your own health and comfort, but also for the health and happiness of your growing little one.
One way to take better care of yourself during pregnancy is to get regular, gentle exercise. Aquatic exercise is a very good choice since it is easy on your joints. In fact, there is a special term for water-based exercise during pregnancy; it's called pre aqua natal! Whether you swim, do some water aerobics, or just kick around on a paddle board at your own pace, here are some of the top benefits of pre aqua natal.
Improved Circulation
Exercise, in general, is important for good circulation during pregnancy. Moving around keeps your heart and blood vessels strong so they can support your baby. Aerobic exercise is best for improving circulation, but a lot of aerobic exercises, like running, are hard on pregnant women's joints. When you work out in the water, the water cushions your joints so you can get a good cardiovascular workout without the joint soreness afterwards.
Strengthening of the Core
A strong core will make labor easier. However, traditional core exercises, like crunches, are really difficult to do while pregnant. Water aerobics can help strengthen your abdominal and back muscles in a gentler way. If you take a pre aqua natal class, you'll often notice that many of the exercises focus on core strength. Thankfully, the exercises are so fun you barely realize you're getting a core workout.
Reduced Lower Limb Swelling
If your ankles swell when you are pregnant, you're not alone. There are a few reasons why this happens. Fluid tends to leech out of the veins and has a hard time finding its way back into circulation if you're not moving around a lot. The extra weight on your joints can also contribute to the swelling.
Thankfully, exercising in the water can really help reduce swollen ankles. Moving around will get your heart beating faster and will dilate your blood vessels, helping that excess fluid find its way back into your blood vessels. The gentle pressure of the water on your ankles will help reduce the swelling, as will the cool temperature of the water.
Relief From Back Pain
Back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy. Often, this pain is due to muscle tension, caused by your growing belly pulling forward on all of those back muscles. When you exercise in the water, the water supports your belly for a time. This temporarily relieves the strain on your back, which can help ease the pain. Many exercises in pre aqua natal classes also focus on stretching the back, which can ease some of the cramping.
If you exercise in the water regularly throughout your pregnancy, your core will grow stronger and better able to support your belly. This change will also help ease back pain in the long term.
Cooling Effects
When women do not exercise during pregnancy, it is often because exercising makes them feel too hot. Luckily, this is not a problem during pool workouts. The water will help keep you cool as you move your body at your own pace. If you're often hot throughout the day, you may find yourself looking forward to pool time for relief.
When you're pregnant, pre aqua natal classes and exercises can be an incredible addition to your routine. If you're looking for flattering swimwear to wear while pregnant, check out the selections from H2O Wear. We offer a variety of supportive, one and two-piece styles to help you feel comfortable and confident.
