Is your body ready to have a baby?
MOMMIES-TO-BE SHOULD GET IN THE EXERCISE GROOVE
Pregnant women used to be confined and coddled. Not anymore. Women
who are expecting can safely exercise and, as a result, see big
payoffs in the delivery room and later on. Fit women are better able
to cope with labor and may recover faster and more easily than those
who are not. What's more, there is evidence that staying fit during
pregnancy reduces the risk of a common pregnancy woe: gestational
diabetes. This has led the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists to recommend that pregnant women exercise most, if not
all, days of the week for 30 minutes. Still, pregnant women may need
to modify their workouts. For instance, instead of moving your arms
up and down during an aerobics workout, use your hands to hold your
belly. However, experts say some moms-to-be should sit it out,
including those carrying multiples and those with persistent
bleeding, placenta previa, a risk of premature labor, ruptured
membranes and preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension). Remember
to always get your doctor's approval before working out.
Source: "Latest Advice on Pregnancy: Keep on Kickin'" [
http://www.nytimes.com ], The New York Times, November 5, 2002

Considering having a little one of your own? Take this quiz [
http://www.lifetimetv.com/reallife/health/quiz/baby_ready.html ] to
find out whether your body is baby-ready.