swimming?!?!

[iwoodeb]

Is anyone spending a lot of time in the water?

I am 39 weeks, 3 days. I feel pretty uncomfortable. It feels like the baby is heavy on my pubic bone, so it hurts to stand/walk. Also, I feel like my external girl parts are achy (not sure how to describe that pain). I groan quite a lot trying to do normal tasks. As of Saturday, I was +1 station and 2cm. When I try to check my own dilation, I can't feel my cervix, but I do feel that round baby head.

I have been pretty useless the last two days and feel like I can't stand or walk much at all. Today, I spent 5 hours in the lake. It was wonderful, I didn't even feel pregnant - so relaxed. I stretched my legs and it was perfect. (And, my 5 yo daughter was happy).

I am thinking I will do that everyday until the baby arrives. Is there any problem with that? Will too much time in the water delay labor starting - since it is the opposite of walking?

[pearl2]

mememememememe I am in the water all the time. I love it. I get in there with my noodle and just float around. Actually, that's not entirely true, since I have this entire 45-minute routine thing I do. I march from one end to the other, and then I do some hops in the warm teaching pool, like a frog. Then I use the noodle to do these hip openers, and then I paddle from one end to the other a few times. I "play tennis" with these styrofoam aqua weight things, and then I do some on top of the water push up things. I do these leg pull-in things where I hang on to the side of the pool with my body horizontal to the water and draw my knees in to hopefully strengthen stomach muscles. Then I march around some more and float for a good 10-15 minutes aimlessly when there's no one else in the space.

I bought a punch-pass card to the pool so all I have to do is announce my name and they just punch my pass. It's super great.

[rivkah]

Oh, by all means, swim! I don't think it will slow labor. After all, both my babies were born in the water!

My understanding is that until your water breaks, there is no problem at all. Relaxing, stretching, exercising all your muscles--all good for labor etc!

I am kicking myself for not buying a maternity suit. But there is no way I am going to spend that much $ for at most a week of swimming, and there is also no way to even attempt to cover myself with my non-maternity suits. (I don't care if you wear a t-shirt, an a-cup top does NOT adequately cover C-sup preggo breasts).

[pearl2]

I just bought a very plus-size suit for $16 and modified it by redoing the straps and adding some darts in strategic places. It's okay for my temporary situation, but it still doesn't offer quite the boob support I want.

[TrishWSU]

I bought a regular tankini from Wal-Mart so I can wear all summer. Sure my belly sticks out at the bottom, but at least it's kind of cute to have your belly hanging out when you're pregnant (and yes, I have a LOT of stretch marks!)

[iwoodeb]

Thanks ladies.

Just got home from another 3 hours in the water - feeling great. I decided, I could try walking all over town to encourage labor - but I plain don't want to. I want to get in water and lay on the couch - the baby will come when s/he is ready.

I wear a too small maternity tankini from my previous pregnancy - but had to go buy a xxlarge bottom at Dollar General - $12. I am sure I look lovely. Also, I have developed crazy greyish/borwn spotches on my face that look awful.

[amandaleigh37]

Yes, it feels so good!! I've been taking my toddler but luckily he will stay nearby in the shallow part so I can sit in the water & watch him...

And I'm wearing my maternity suit from 3 years ago, but you know what? My belly still hangs out the bottom... (tank top) :/ Oh well.

[Ianthe]

I would like to, but the weather here has been really rainy and thunderstorms and will be for the next week.. PLUS it's a pain in the butt to shave!

[MoonJelly]

Originally Posted by iwoodeb

Is anyone spending a lot of time in the water?

I am 39 weeks, 3 days. I feel pretty uncomfortable. It feels like the baby is heavy on my pubic bone, so it hurts to stand/walk. Also, I feel like my external girl parts are achy (not sure how to describe that pain). I groan quite a lot trying to do normal tasks.

I have been pretty useless the last two days and feel like I can't stand or walk much at all. Today, I spent 5 hours in the lake. It was wonderful, I didn't even feel pregnant - so relaxed. I stretched my legs and it was perfect. (And, my 5 yo daughter was happy).

Yep, this is me! I also have a, well almost 5-yo, DD. I scored a maternity suit when I was PG with her at a really decent price from Sears when they were selling re-branded Motherhood stuff. It would have been too big early on, but I have gained more weight now than with DD, and for better or worse it fits.

I am having all those same issues with pubic pressure and trouble standing and walking. Being in the pool has been a relief.

[BethandLC]

Yep - its what we do every day! I am actually hoping for him to come (gasp!) a week or so late so I can have more pool time with dd.

[saimeiyu]

((DDC crashing from new posts.))

Swimming is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby late in pregnancy. It's good, low-impact exercise if you want to actually swim-swim, which helps both you and your baby, and it will WAY keep the swelling down. Also, it will help get your baby into the right position. So swim away!