Congratulations!
If you’re currently pregnant or planning pregnancy, firstly, huge congratulations on this exciting new chapter! You’re about to embark on many new experiences and feelings — both physically and emotionally. While we aren’t pregnancy experts here at Pendle Leisure Trust, we pride ourselves on offering safe, encouraging, and motivational spaces to help you keep moving during pregnancy and beyond.

Why Swimming Is One of the Best Exercises During Pregnancy
One of the best exercises you can do during pregnancy is swimming. With three swimming pools right here in Pendle, we invite you to take the weight off (quite literally) while you float and glide through the water. Swimming not only offers the joy of feeling lighter and freer to move, but it also comes with multiple health benefits for both you and your baby.

Health Benefits of Swimming During Pregnancy

• Improved Circulation & Reduced Swelling: Immersing yourself in water helps push fluid away from your legs and feet, improving circulation and easing common pregnancy swelling.

• Relief from Discomfort: The low-impact nature of swimming helps relieve pregnancy-related back pain, pelvic discomfort, and restless legs. Top Tip: Try wearing goggles while swimming — they encourage you to keep your head down, resulting in a more comfortable position for your body.

• Stress Relief & Better Sleep: The soothing qualities of water combined with the release of endorphins help reduce anxiety and stress and contribute to better sleep. These benefits come from regular lane swimming as well as aqua classes. Why not switch up your aqua routine occasionally to keep motivated?

• Weight Management & Metabolic Health: Swimming helps control weight gain and improve overall metabolic health, as evidenced in a 2022 systematic review of over 2,000 women.

• Potential for a Shorter Labour: Some research suggests a connection between regular aerobic exercise and reduced labour time — now doesn’t that sound ideal?

Listen to Your Body
Be sure to listen to your body and your baby — only you truly knows how you feel and what you’re capable of. And when the time comes to welcome your bundle of joy, we wish you all the very best in those magical first weeks and months. And of course, we’ll be eagerly waiting to welcome you both back to our pools!