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I remember seeing actress Jane Seymour on television just about six weeks after she'd given birth to twin boys. She looked incredible. This was even more incredible when you considered that she had spent much of the late stages of her pregnancy on bed rest. At the time, it was rumored that she'd had a tummy tuck, but she insisted that her quick bounce back was due to isometric exercises.
Birgitta Gallo knows that Seymour's version of the story is the correct one because she designed Seymour's exercise program early in the pregnancy, then modified it when Seymour was placed on bed rest. Gallo, author of Expecting Fitness: How to Modify and Enjoy Your Exercise Program Throughout Your Pregnancy (Renaissance Books, 2000), says being high risk doesn't automatically exclude anyone from exercising. The goal, she notes, is twofold: healthy babies born as late in term as possible and a better recovery time for Mom.
There are very few situations where a woman shouldn't get at least some exercise. |
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In general, women who shouldn't be encouraged to exercise are those with preterm labor, whose babies aren't growing well or who have preeclampsia. Also, no one should exercise without first getting their doctor's approval.
Even a woman on bed rest can exercise. In her book, The Pregnancy Bed Rest Book: A Survival Guide for Expectant Mothers and Their Families (Berkley Publishing Group, 2001), Amy Tracy suggests that women ask their doctors to recommend a physical therapist to help them design an exercise program.
Content provided on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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