Ease pregnancy discomforts and stay in shape safely with this cool pool workout. Any type of aerobic exercise during pregnancy helps increase your body's ability to process and utilize oxygen, which is important for you and your baby. But swimming is great exercise because it uses both large muscle groups (arms and legs). Although it's a low-impact activity, swimming provides good cardiovascular benefits and allows expectant women to feel weightless despite the extra pounds added by pregnancy. Swimming improves circulation, increases muscle tone and strength, and builds endurance.

Swimming helps counteract the increased back strain from your expanding belly. Pregnancy forces the spine and shoulders to round forward and the pelvis to tilt out of alignment, but swimming gently strengthens the muscles and offsets this tendency. The water protects you from overheating and supports your joints and ligaments as you exercise, preventing injury. If you swim, you burn calories, feel less fatigued, sleep better, and are better equipped to handle pregnancy's physical and emotional challenges. Swimming helps you keep your weight within a healthy range, and some women say swimming makes them feel less bloated.

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