Week 40 I am still dancing in the water

In my effort to avoid induction, I started going to a swimming class in November at a gym near our home. It always makes me feel happy and I find it relaxing; just the idea that I got out and socialized makes me feel like I’m not just cooped up in our flat.

The class takes 45 minutes, sometimes an hour, depending which day you go. This is like a Zumba dance class, the only difference is that you do it in the water. It’s a little bit tricky because you may feel like it’s not that heavy because you are in the water floating, but the truth is you are exerting more effort, especially when the instructor has you use a rubber dumbbell.

The first 15 – 20 minutes we usually just dance, and the next 20 minutes we use the rubber dumbbell with the instructor having us to do our biceps and triceps under water, just as if you are working out outside the water. It is really tough for me, but the instructor is helpful, and she lets me do what I want. I just follow what others do, except when they do jumping and crunching their bellies.

The instructor always trys to make it fun and lively as she does the dance steps, she waves at little girls and boys who stare at her from poolside, and makes faces and teases the lifeguard to join the dance.

Today, the lifeguard did not join dancing in the pool, but he managed to belt out some high notes of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” while he made sure we didn’t drown. 

It is interesting to see that most of the participants are 55 years old and up, and they are still fit! Each time I go there I can’t help but think of my mum; I wish we had classes like this in Surigao, it would help my Mamai, especially because she loves the water. I realized that, despite having had two strokes, swimming could help her. She could float if we let her use the life jacket, and I am sure she can eventually swim on her own without the help of her yaya (caregiver).

The gym is nearby our flat; it takes only a five minute walk, but because I am slow it takes 10 minutes for me to get there. I don’t like to rush so I just walk at my own pace. Sometimes I get lazy to go because it’s cold, but I know that it will do me and the baby good.

Today is my last day to swim before I will be induced tomorrow and some women told me that I was brave to keep swimming despite being due tomorrow. But I am continuing to swim and walk because I am hoping to avoid having my delivery medically induced.