These archives contain extracts from discussions held on the UK Midwives and Consumers email list, a discussion group for people interested in midwifery in the UK. Open to midwives, students, mothers, and anyone interested in improving maternity services in UK. Posts in these archives express the views of the individual authors, and not those of the Association of Radical Midwives.
Secondly, Is it true that pregnant women should avoid swimming with a breaststroke kick or is this some kind of old wives tale? Is there a physiological reason why it's not good to do breaststroke kicking when pregnant?
It pulls on the symphysis pubis - breaststroke kick was one of the things I
couldn't do without pain when I had SPD. I guess that's the reason for the advice,
that it might set off or worsen SPD?
S
Avoiding rigorous breast stroke in later pregnancy is suggested because of symphysis
pubis pain, which can be made worse, I believe. Sitting cross-legged. Most women
do not have symphysis pain, but if they do, keeping the old legs together will
help not make the problem worse. Lithotomy in hospital or giving birth anywhere
can cause a real problem. I have seen two women who could not walk for nearly
two weeks and had to use Zimmer Frames.
DP
LW updated April 9, 2005