Is swimming safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about swimming during pregnancy?

1. Swimming and water aerobics are named among the activities that stay comfortable to do throughout pregnancy, alongside stationary cycling. 1
2. Swimming and snorkeling during pregnancy are described as generally safe in federal travel health guidance. 2
3. Pooled trial data on prenatal aquatic exercise found no difference in birth weight, Apgar scores at one and five minutes, or umbilical cord blood pH compared with women who did not swim, and few adverse events were reported. 3
4. Chlorination byproduct exposure from swimming pool use was not associated with lower birth weight, small-for-gestational-age birth, or preterm delivery in a large Spanish birth cohort study. 4
5. Roughly 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week is the general target during pregnancy, and swimming counts toward it. 1

Is swimming safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. A pool suits a body that is tired and queasy, and it is usually cooler than a gym floor. Keep the water comfortable rather than hot, since overheating matters most in these early weeks.
• Second trimester. This is when most swimmers feel their best. Floating takes the load off a growing bump, and steady laps let you work at a moderate pace with no pounding on your joints.
• Third trimester. Buoyancy helps most in the last stretch, when walking feels heavy and ankles swell. The real hazard is the wet deck rather than the water, so take the steps slowly and hold the rail.