Conference moira::parenting_v3

Aerobics is fine, but reducing your caloric intake has been shown to have
bearing on your ability to conceive.  If I was trying to become more fit
while I was trying to conceive I would work out frequently, keep my calories
normal but make sure they were from high quality foods.

Ditto for if you are pregnant now.  The conservative approach is to treat 
yourself like you are pregnant while you are trying - no alcohol, caffeine,
eat properly, etc.

Good luck,

=ss

    If you have just started an aerobic program it may have some bearing on
    your ability to conceive; definitely with the caloric adjustment of
    your body. 
    
    I know every time I honestly dieted (meaning eliminating food rather
    than eating healthy), my cycle changed. When I increased my exercise
    programs, they also changed, but that was swimming and your body
    supposedly can get real messed up from being in and out of water during
    your cycle. There have been a number of documentaries on about how
    high-class athletes stop their cycle completely. I know I used to just
    stop my cycle during my high school swim season.
    
    I think alot of it depends upon the way your body reacts to changes.
    If you are worried, ask your OB to recommend a program for you so you
    can lose the 10 and not have to worry about altering your ability to
    conceive. If you are really trying to conceive, 10 pounds isn't that
    much extra weight. You can do a walking program while you're pregnant
    and take off the remaining weight after the baby. You will be eating
    healthy anyways during the pregnancy. If you are determined to lose the
    10 before getting pregnant, don't bother thinking about conceiving
    until after you lose it and it might take a little longer for your
    body to re-adjust to a new weight and metabolic rate.
    
    I would talk to your OB about it all. Many have some definite ideas
    about exercise and eating pre-pregnancy. 
    
    FWIW---I know of a person who did the "Oprah Winfrey" diet (sorry I
    forgot the real name of it). She lost a LOT of weight with the
    intention of being "fit" before she got pregnant. Over the past year,
    she has had a number of mis-carriages. Her body is just having a very
    difficult adjusting to it's new level of weight, not to mention the
    fact that she was starving herself for 3 months straight. Don't fad
    diet - eat healthy, eat wisely. Your body is your child's life support
    for 9+ months. 
    
    Andrea

    RE: exercise and "hurting the baby"
    
    I like the attitude my OB/GYN has.  Basically, it's live normally.  She
    encourages pregnant women to *continue* whatever exercise they've been
    doing, but don't start a vigorous exercise program when they become
    pregnant.
    
    Although I have heard differently from other sources, my MD restricts
    the following activities during pregnancy:
    
    	* Downhill skiing
    
    	* Water skiing
    
    	* Horseback riding
    
    I know a woman who rode horses regularly until she was 5 months
    pregnant.  When I asked my doctor if I could ride while pregnant, she
    stated the above.  The danger of falling was the issue.
                                                                   
    

    
    In the spring of 1989 I took the boys to see the Big Apple Circus when
    it was in Boston.  The horseback acts were mainly done by the wife of
    the ringmaster; lots of bareback stuff, riding standing up with each
    foot on a different horse, etc.  Very athletic.  Though somewhat
    disguised by artful costume design, she was clearly rather thoroughly
    pregnant.  She gave birth the day after we saw the show, and I remember
    reading that she was back in the act about one day after that!  A great
    circus.
    
    		- Bruce
    

    	And then there is me, who, although not pregnant, got on a horse to
    join in on a trail ride. I fell off of my horse and was then thrown in
    front of a bucking horse catching his hoof in my thigh and spent the
    next three weeks in bed nursing a hugh hematoma and blood clot in my
    leg. 

    	For me the risk of horse back riding while pregnant would be too
    great and I would never do it. (In fact, I don't think that I will
    *ever* be getting on a horse again) But then I do not think that
    down-hill skiing is all that dangerous and I certainly would consider
    that during the early stages. (note, I've been skiing my whole life and
    have only ridden horses sporatically)

    	I guess it all depends on your skill and confidence level.
    
			
    			Wendy
    

    This is for what it's worth, which might not be very much.  I saw
    it on CNN's medical segment so it must be true :) :)  Check it out
    with your doctor.
    
    Waterskiing and diving are apparently dangerous no matter what
    your level of expertise, because the kind of impact they involve
    can push water up the vagina, causing placental detachment and
    hemmorage.  
    
    The same report said that aerobics was not dangerous to the baby,
    though because pregnancy loosens your ligaments etc. it can cause
    more injuries in the mother, especially knee and back injuries.
    
    Horseback riding was specifically mentioned as fine if you're used
    to it -- bicycling is a be-careful because your balance changes. I
    found I couldn't stay on a bike after about the fourth month; we
    wound up with a bicycle built for two, which let Neil do most of
    the balancing and me do most of the pedalling.
    
    They didn't mention downhill skiing.  
    
    --bonnie

    As for down-hill skiing, my OB said no problem with skiing until about
    6 months provided I hadn't gained alot of weight so my balance wasn't
    off. He said no mogul runs though. I skied at 3 months during the
    summer (different hemisphere) but didn't ski when the New England ski
    season hit and it's mostly ice through November. The general advice was
    don't start a major athletic activity if you have never done it before. 
    
    Bonnie, (re. -1), I'm sorry I missed the show that mentioned diving. My
    "summer" sport is scuba diving and PADI recommends that you don't dive
    while pregnant because of the nitrogen build up in your body. This
    build up can lead to the "bends" (nitrogen bubbles in your blood stream
    that gather in your joints and cause you to bend over to relieve the
    pressure). A tiny air bubble that gets passed to a tiny fetus could be
    deadly. As far as the pressure aspect, PADI and many others have shown
    no evidence that the pressure issue is a problem for the baby since it
    is completely surrounded by fluid which is not affected by the
    pressure. Needless to say, I've sat out the summer. I've heard of
    people diving while pregnant to only depths of about 30 feet because at
    that point there is only 1 atmoshpere of pressure on you so your body
    gives off nitrogen at the normal rate as if on land. I didn't take any
    chances at all!!!
    
    Andrea

    
    In re: .7
    
    You'd better go back to SCUBA refresher school, Andrea.  You're under
    increased pressure anywhere beneath the surface.  At 30', it's two
    atomospheres.
    
    			- Bruce
    

    re: .7
    
    They didn't mean scuba diving, anyway, they meant platform and
    springboard diving -- swan dives, one-and-a-half gainers, that
    kind of thing.  I don't think they mentioned scuba.
    
    --bonnie

    I worked for a manager last year, who gave birth in April, she did
    skiing until the last snowflake melted, in Vemont!
    
    In my first pregnancy, we were doing Digital Day at Canobie Lake Park
    on that big boat that swings back and forth.  I kind of suspected I
    "might be" but wasn't sure, and everytime I felt the pressure from the
    down swing I kept wondering "what if I am pregnant", I was and the
    pregnacy was unaffected by that particular ride.
    
    Enjoy!
    Lyn
    

    Thank goodness for you.  I was on that ride and was in the middle of my
    regular cycle.  The results were incredibly and unbelievably
    disasterous and.... well, not a fun time!  That ride caused my body to
    react in ways that it never had before.  Of course, I don't think
    Mother Nature meant for us to ever be throwing about bodies back and
    forth at 180 degree angles!  ...And I never will again! :-}