Is Aqua Exercising Safe During Pregnancy?

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We get a lot of questions on whether or not pregnant women should get involved in aqua exercising and which exercises in the pool are safe/beneficial for them.


The answer is not simple. While there are safe and beneficial exercises in the pool, there are also unsafe exercises and actions which you would want to avoid.

For example, intensive aqua aerobics may not be safe for pregnant women due to the speeding up of their heartbeat beyond the recommended rates (140bpm - although some researchers say otherwise). In addition, abdominal exercises - or at least some of those exercises - may not be safe either.


Every future mother handles pregnancy differently. With that in mind, there is no way we can list all the things that could harm your baby in the pool. There are other factors such as diseases and medical conditions (like over sensitivity to chlorine) that make the answer even more complicated.


But there are things in the pool which all future mothers should avoid. Beside the above mentioned intensive aerobic workouts and abs exercises, you should avoid exercising in cold water temperatures. That is mainly because uterus can contract in cold temperatures. Cold water also increases the risk of getting sick and makes your body work harder to maintain its temperature. All those things may affect your baby's health.


Not only cold water, but you should refrain from exercising in hot water too in order to avoid overheating.


Other risky actions include jumping in the pool from the edge, not drinking enough water during workouts, holding your breath during workouts and exercising in the sun for long time.


To sum it up, you can safely exercise in the pool by:

1. Sticking to aqua pilates (except exercises with waist twisting) and simple muscle toning exercises (except for abs);
2. Familiarizing yourself with water temperature and the ventilation system in the pool before getting in;
3. Checking with your doctor for possible medical problems that could affect your baby's health in the pool;
4. Not staying in the water for too long and not exercising for longer than 30 minutes;
5. Hydrating yourself regularly during the workout;
6. Breathing properly;
7. Avoiding jumping exercises;
8. If you are exercising with heavy materials like aquabike, avoid lifting or moving them;
9. Drying yourself well before leaving outside;
10. If you are exercising in outdoor pools avoid hot hours and use sunscreen;

This should cover most of the important risks. Feel free to ask questions if you have any. 

Related Topic:
Best Aqua Exercises for Pregnancy

Wish you all a happy and safe aqua exercising!

Published by: Shadi