Swimming when you're pregnant

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Swimming is one of the most relaxing exercises you can do and being relaxed can help calm your baby too. It's also a good all-round exercise as swimming can lower your blood pressure, ease joint and muscle pain, burn fat and can be a cardiovascular workout too.

Best move:

Breast stroke is a good swimming style because this opens and strengthens your chest, ready for when you need to control your breathing in labour. And it opens your hips and encourages flexibility of the pelvis. Remember to keep your back and neck straight - if you have difficulty, use a float under each arm or under your chest. Do as many lengths as you can but if you feel tired, stop.

Need to know:

At many community swimming pools there are special classes for pregnant women. Look in your local phone book to find your nearest pool.

If you don't like swimming lengths but you want a way to tone and flex your muscles, get a float or hold on to the side bar and do the same stretches you'd do at home or at an exercise class.

By Louise O'Connell