Doctors, midwives, and moms all agree that one of the best exercises to do during pregnancy is swimming. Water exercises allow a pregnant woman all the benefits of cardiovascular exercise without the extra pressure on your joints.  Imagine how great it would feel to enter the water and all of sudden have all that extra weight feel like it isn’t even there.

There are several different types of water exercises.

Swimming: I think we are all familiar with swimming . Basically you can make swimming part of a routine that includes other activities or your main cardiovascular activity. Swimming is a great source of aerobic exercise and is also easy on your joints.

Water Step Aerobics: this is a form of your regular, run of the mill step aerobics but done in the water. It is usually done in a class type setting with an instructor. You will do things like walking or running in the water, and other aerobic type activities.

Water Weight Training: this is basically the use of water weights, which are usually foam weights, under water. The water creates the resistance. There are classes, but this is something you could easily do on your own.

If you have a pool in your backyard daily water exercises can be a great way to stay in shape, or get in shape, during your pregnancy, and as a postpartum exercise routine. If you aren’t so lucky most local pools are great alternatives. Local pools and recreation centers often offer water aerobic classes. You may find they have ones specifically for pregnant women, but any regular water aerobic class will do the trick.

You should always discuss any exercise routine with your doctor or midwife prior to getting started. You should also stop any exercise program and call your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms or have concerns.