The Complete Guide to Aqua Exercise for Pregnancy and Postnatal Health

Sarah Bolitho is Curriculum and Business Development Coordinator at Fitness Wales. Vicky Hatch is an Exercise Practitioner at Papworth Hospital.

Chapter content overview
Section 1 – Underpinning Knowledge

Chapter 1 - introduction
Introduction and brief overview of pregnancy
Physiological changes of pregnancy relevant to water based exercise including:
Cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Musculoskeletal systems
Weight and body mass changes
Introduction and overview of water based exercise
Properties of water
Movement and muscle actions in water
Balance and stability

Chapter 2 – why water?
Benefits of water based exercise for pre and post natal women
Potential risks of water based exercise during pregnancy
Contraindications to activity during pregnancy and the post natal period

Section 2 – Skills

Chapter 3 – motivating and supporting clients
Motivation to exercise in pregnancy
Potential barriers to becoming more active in pregnancy
Promoting long term health behaviour change

Chapter 4 – instructor skills
The role and scopeof an instructor
Skills of a good instructor
Professional issues (insurance etc.)
Teaching skills including group management

Section 3 – Practical application

Chapter 5 - planning
Pre-session planning including:
Screening, cautions and contraindications
Pool and environment considerations
Health and safety
Session planning including:
Pre- session considerations
Session components (warm up, main activity, cool down)
Post session monitoring

Chapter 6 – session content - pre natal
The exercises
Using equipment
Example exercises and session formats

Chapter 7 – session content – post natal
The exercises
Using equipment
Example exercises and session formats

Chapter 8
Additional considerations for clients in the following categories:
Cardiac
Obesity/overweight
Diabetes
Orthopaedic issues