Sea swimming during pregnancy and matrescence: Embodiment, experiences and the environment

There is a knowledge gap around pregnant women's experiences of sea swimming both within the social research sphere and wider public health communications. Using creative methods, this cross-disciplinary research focuses upon the embodiment and experiences of 13 pregnant and 5 matrescent women who sea swam during winter in the UK. Findings document the women's perceived health and wellbeing benefits of cold water swimming through pregnancy including a protected space for mothers to create time for themselves. Cold water immersion was reported as easing aches and pains associated with pregnancy. Some women used the controlled breath of entering cold water as a pre-emptive strategy for labour, parallel to wider hypnobirthing strategies recommended by midwives, doulas or health care providers. The relationship between the midwife and women is discussed, particularly in relation to exchange of knowledge, healthcare concerns and risks such as the condition and quality of the water. The paper includes two research poems written by the lead author that weave the questions, concerns and experiences of the participants involved following in-person interviews in coastal locations in South West UK and research workshops. The poems summarise why women wish to continue swimming in the sea through their pregnancy, despite safety and environmental challenges. Altogether, this paper sets out new and novel parameters for conducting health and place research using sequential mixed methods with a survey and qualitative techniques including poetry, diaries and photography, that honour the voices and stories of the women involved.