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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1990
Imml
Pregnancy Rules
Continued from preceding page
knew that was a fallacy, and
I'm a perfect example."
Most physicians believe
that pregnancy is not the
time to start a strenuous ex-
ercise program. If you're
already on one, then it's per-
missible to continue, within
the realm of comfort, of
course. But it's important to
avoid dehydration and
overheating.
The guidelines of the
American College of Obste-
tricians and Gynecologists, of-
fer suggestions for exercising
during pregnancy. Keep the
heart rate to 140 beats per
minute. There's a significant
increase of blood volume that
circulates when you're preg-
nant. If you raise the heart
beat too much, you're asking
the heart to pump a greater
load at a faster rate, making
the risk of heart failure
possible.
In addition, there's the add-
ed risk of shunting blood
away from the nourishing
placenta toward the areas of
the body that are requiring it
at the time, such as the arms
and legs.
to
tend
Physicians
discourage "bouncy jerky" ex-
ercise later in pregnancy.
Hormones make your
ligaments more elastic, so
there can be a greater risk of
injury. That risk doesn't end
the moment you give birth
either. It should be at least six
to eight weeks before you
resume any high-impact
exercise.
The objective of exercising
when pregnant is to make a
woman fit, not to make her an
athlete.
For that reason, most doc-
tors recommend exercise pro-
grams that are specifically
geared to pregnant women.
At the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan
Detroit, Candice Bousquet,
director of physical education
and health, also offers a pre-
and post-natal exercise pro-
gram, both on the floor and in
the pool. Like most other pre-
natal exercise programs, Ms.
Bousquet requires all preg-
nant women to have their doc-
tor's permission and allows
them to begin the program
only after the first trimester.
"We follow the ACOG
guidelines," says Ms. Bouse-
quet, "including keeping the
heart rate to 140, and not do-
ing any exercise lying flat on
the back."
The "rules" of pregnancy
have changed in other areas
besides exercise. Nutrition,
and specifically weight gain,
have been rethought. Years
ago, pregnant women were
told not to gain "too much"
weight. Today, most doctors
suggest an average weight
gain of 25 to 30 pounds to en-
sure a healthy baby. However,
optimal weight gain depends
on pre-pregnancy weight.
Physicians discourage
drinking, too much caffeine
and cigarettes.
That is echoed by Donald
Blitz. "The average range is
25-30 pounds," he admits,
"but if you're 5'3" and 190
pounds to start with, a
30-pound weight gain is not
so good. On the other hand, if
you're 5'7" and 90 pounds, 40
pounds would be better.
"People have a tendency to
hang on numbers," he adds.
"What we say is eat normal-
ly and don't pay as much at-
tention to how much you're
gaining. Use common sense.
Eat green vegetables, lean
protein (just two extra ounces
a day should do it), limit star-
ches and fat."
Perhaps the one issue that
has the most women the most
Doctors allow
women to continue
to exercise during
pregnancy, while
following common
sense guidelines.
confused is the age limit. Or,
as most doctors today would
say, "What age limit?"
Twenty years ago, women
over the age of 30 were older
mothers. Today, that is not
true.
For women over the age of
35, there is a slightly higher
risk for chromosomal abnor-
mality, specifically — but not
limited to — Down's Syn-
drome, and for that reason
physicians recommend
genetic counseling for the
older woman.
Dr. Bitz remarks that the
bottom line is physical condi-
tion, not age. "If you're 40
and in good shape, you may
have even more reason to
have a good pregnancy than
a 25-year-old who's not in
good condition. I have pa-
tients in their 40s who are
pregnant.
"Physically, there shouldn't
be a problem," he adds. "Men-
tally, of course, that's a whole
different ball game. That's
even more significant to me.
Having a baby entails
tremendous lifestyle changes
that older couples may not be
as prepared for. When you're
younger and you're not as
established, it may be easier
to be more flexible.
"But today," he adds, "We
are seeing a lot more older
pregnancies. "It's almost to
the point that if we see a
25-year-old who is pregnant,
we're surprised. That's almost
like a teen-age pregnancy
these days." ❑