Swimming During Pregnancy Increases Chances of Asthma and Eczema in Children

Swimming during pregnancy can increase the chances of babies being prone to asthma or eczema in later life, a latest study warns.

According to the research published in the British Journal of Dermatology, chemicals such as chlorine that are used in pools to keep the water clean,  change the immune system of the unborn baby, reports the Daily Mail.

Researchers at the St. John's Institute of Dermatology in London and the University of Manchester conducted the study to find out the reason behind five-fold increase in asthma, eczema and hay fever in the UK  in the past five years. They said that people wash themselves more often because of which they get limited exposure to Vitamin D.

The study authors noted that "exposure to certain airborne chemicals during pregnancy and in early life may play a contributory role in influencing susceptibility to atopic allergy."

"We in the science world are still struggling to find the exact cause of this rise. Several theories have been put out there, including the hygiene hypothesis and others like vitamin D. We have now postulated another possibility," Dr John McFadden, consultant dermatologist at St John's Institute of Dermatology, told The Telegraph.

However, he maintained that they have not proved that chemicals in the water are the cause of rise in eczema and asthma cases but rather have provided a hypothesis. "But we do know that we are using far more chemicals than we did 50 years ago, whether it is in personal care products or processed food and we think should be looked at an studied more."

Doctors believe that exposure to chemical alter our hormones, the chemical messengers, which in turn effect the immune system.

According to the NHS guidelines, pregnant women should swim in order to stay fit. The water helps support the extra weight of the growing baby.