Can You Go Swimming While Pregnant?
Yes — swimming is one of the best exercises in pregnancy: low-impact, gentle on your joints, and safe throughout.
The full answer
Swimming and water aerobics are widely recommended in pregnancy. The water supports your growing bump, takes pressure off your back and joints, and lets you stay active comfortably even late on, while still giving your heart and muscles a good workout. Properly maintained public pools are fine — a large Danish study of about 74,000 pregnancies found no link between swimming in pool water and problems for the baby. A few sensible points: take care on slippery poolsides, don't dive or jump in from a height, and avoid very hot pools or hot tubs, since overheating (not the swimming) is the real risk. Scuba diving should be avoided entirely in pregnancy, and so should water sports with a fall risk, like water skiing and surfing. Otherwise, swim as often as you like, listening to your body.
How to go swimming safely
- Swim or try aqua-natal classes throughout pregnancy — it's low-impact
- Take care on slippery edges; don't dive or jump from a height
- Avoid very hot pools/hot tubs and scuba diving
When to avoid: Avoid scuba diving entirely, and stay out of the water if your waters have broken or you have bleeding or an infection.
Swimming by trimester
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| First trimester | Generally encouraged from the start. It's one of the few activities that stays comfortable throughout, and the water takes load off joints that are already being affected by hormonal changes. |
| Second trimester | Often the point where swimming becomes most valuable, as back and pelvic pain start and land-based exercise gets less comfortable. Nothing about the guidance changes. |
| Third trimester | Still encouraged, and often the only exercise that feels genuinely good this late — the buoyancy offsets the weight. Stop swimming if your waters have broken, and skip hot pools. |
Common questions about swimming in pregnancy
Is chlorine in pools safe during pregnancy?
Normally chlorinated pools are not considered a problem in pregnancy, and swimming is widely recommended as exercise. If a pool smells strongly of chemicals that usually indicates poor maintenance rather than more chlorine, which is a reason to swim elsewhere.
Can I swim in the sea or a lake?
Open water is generally fine where the water quality is good and the conditions are safe. The considerations are practical ones — currents, cold shock, and getting in and out safely with a changed centre of gravity — rather than pregnancy-specific.
When should I stop swimming?
If your waters have broken, stop, because of infection risk. Otherwise most people swim comfortably until late in pregnancy. Get out if you feel faint, have contractions, or notice bleeding, and mention any of those to your provider.
How swimming fits your own pregnancy is worth a quick check with your midwife or provider. The general rules on overheating, falls and exercise are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you go swimming while pregnant?
- Yes — swimming is one of the best exercises in pregnancy: low-impact, gentle on your joints, and safe throughout. Swimming and water aerobics are widely recommended in pregnancy. The water supports your growing bump, takes pressure off your back and joints, and lets you stay active comfortably even late on, while still giving your heart and muscles a good workout. Properly maintained public pools are fine — a large Danish study of about 74,000 pregnancies found no link between swimming in pool water and problems for the baby. A few sensible points: take care on slippery poolsides, don't dive or jump in from a height, and avoid very hot pools or hot tubs, since overheating (not the swimming) is the real risk. Scuba diving should be avoided entirely in pregnancy, and so should water sports with a fall risk, like water skiing and surfing. Otherwise, swim as often as you like, listening to your body.
- Why is swimming considered safe in pregnancy?
- Swimming and water aerobics are widely recommended in pregnancy. The water supports your growing bump, takes pressure off your back and joints, and lets you stay active comfortably even late on, while still giving your heart and muscles a good workout. Properly maintained public pools are fine — a large Danish study of about 74,000 pregnancies found no link between swimming in pool water and problems for the baby. A few sensible points: take care on slippery poolsides, don't dive or jump in from a height, and avoid very hot pools or hot tubs, since overheating (not the swimming) is the real risk. Scuba diving should be avoided entirely in pregnancy, and so should water sports with a fall risk, like water skiing and surfing. Otherwise, swim as often as you like, listening to your body.
- When should I avoid swimming during pregnancy?
- Avoid scuba diving entirely, and stay out of the water if your waters have broken or you have bleeding or an infection.
Sources
This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.