Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations
ABSTRACT Introduction Cold water swimming has increased in popularity and women wish to swim throughout pregnancy. There is a lack of evidenced‐based guidance to make decisions about the safety of immersion in cold water during pregnancy. Methods Closed social media groups were asked for specific qu...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Lifestyle Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70009 |
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| author | J Shawe M Felton JC Harper C Mark Harper R Stidson M Tipton S Blowers K Fraser S Hingley E McGrath G Bainbridge Massey Heather |
| author_facet | J Shawe M Felton JC Harper C Mark Harper R Stidson M Tipton S Blowers K Fraser S Hingley E McGrath G Bainbridge Massey Heather |
| author_sort | J Shawe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Introduction Cold water swimming has increased in popularity and women wish to swim throughout pregnancy. There is a lack of evidenced‐based guidance to make decisions about the safety of immersion in cold water during pregnancy. Methods Closed social media groups were asked for specific questions in relation to cold water swimming and pregnancy. This highlighted concerns including water temperature, risks to the mother and fetus, and water quality. To find evidence‐based answers, a series of meetings brought together clinicians and researchers with expertise in cold water physiology, exercise physiology, fertility, obstetrics, neonatology, midwifery, water epidemiology, public health and representatives from the Open Water Swimming Society and an Open Water swimming social enterprise. Results Published data were examined via a scoping review process and four studies and eight reports were identified. Recommendations were made with evidence graded (mostly grade 4 expert opinion). Conclusion Research gaps highlight the need for research to enable accurate advice to determine whether it is safe for pregnant women to swim outdoors in cold water. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d175d07afe0b4ecd8843022081915d59 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2688-3740 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lifestyle Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-d175d07afe0b4ecd8843022081915d592025-01-27T06:15:56ZengWileyLifestyle Medicine2688-37402025-01-0161n/an/a10.1002/lim2.70009Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus RecommendationsJ Shawe0M Felton1JC Harper2C Mark Harper3R Stidson4M Tipton5S Blowers6K Fraser7S Hingley8E McGrath9G Bainbridge10Massey Heather11Faculty of Health University of Plymouth Plymouth Devon UKDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University Bournemouth Dorset UKEGA Institute for Women's Health University College London London UKRoyal Sussex County Hospital Brighton UKScottish Environment Protection Agency Stirling Scotland UKExtreme Environments Laboratory University of Portsmouth Portsmouth UKFaculty of Health University of Plymouth Plymouth Devon UKPrincess Royal Hospital ‐ University Hospitals Sussex Brighton UKChelsea and Westminster Hospital Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust London UKSchool of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UKThe Bluetits Chill Swimmers Ltd., St. Davids Pembrokeshire UKExtreme Environments Laboratory University of Portsmouth Portsmouth UKABSTRACT Introduction Cold water swimming has increased in popularity and women wish to swim throughout pregnancy. There is a lack of evidenced‐based guidance to make decisions about the safety of immersion in cold water during pregnancy. Methods Closed social media groups were asked for specific questions in relation to cold water swimming and pregnancy. This highlighted concerns including water temperature, risks to the mother and fetus, and water quality. To find evidence‐based answers, a series of meetings brought together clinicians and researchers with expertise in cold water physiology, exercise physiology, fertility, obstetrics, neonatology, midwifery, water epidemiology, public health and representatives from the Open Water Swimming Society and an Open Water swimming social enterprise. Results Published data were examined via a scoping review process and four studies and eight reports were identified. Recommendations were made with evidence graded (mostly grade 4 expert opinion). Conclusion Research gaps highlight the need for research to enable accurate advice to determine whether it is safe for pregnant women to swim outdoors in cold water.https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70009cold/open water swimmingcold water immersionpregnancy |
| spellingShingle | J Shawe M Felton JC Harper C Mark Harper R Stidson M Tipton S Blowers K Fraser S Hingley E McGrath G Bainbridge Massey Heather Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations Lifestyle Medicine cold/open water swimming cold water immersion pregnancy |
| title | Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations |
| title_full | Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations |
| title_short | Cold Water Swimming and Pregnancy: A Scoping Review and Consensus Recommendations |
| title_sort | cold water swimming and pregnancy a scoping review and consensus recommendations |
| topic | cold/open water swimming cold water immersion pregnancy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70009 |
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