Exercise

Exercise, like nutrition, is an important factor in maintaining your good health during pregnancy and is also a great way to help you avoid a lot of unnecessary pain in labor. This exercise is broken down into 2 categories. Regular

physical exercise: It is important to get some kind of exercise every day so that you will have the stamina it takes to labor and give birth. Walking is an excellent way of getting this exercise and almost everyone can do it.

Pregnancy exercises: These exercises taught in Bradley classes are designed specifically to tone and condition the muscles you will use to give birth. These exercises also aid in minimizing many common pregnancy discomforts.

Most activities can be continued safely during pregnancy if you are careful to use common sense. Avoid lying on your back, excess pressure on the kegel muscle (jogging or bouncing), and too much stress on your body, including keeping your pulse and core temp in a normal range.

Placeholder Image

Although there are situations that are beyond our control which can cause a mother to become high risk, there are many very important things that a pregnant woman can do to help herself to stay healthy and low risk. These are things that only she can do for herself and for her baby.

 

Avoid Harmful Substances:

The safest medication for mom and baby is no medication! If at all possible, avoid any and all drugs before and during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, it is a great idea to avoid drugs post-partum as well. Drugs are at the top of the list of things to avoid. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on drugs, there is no drug, whether over the counter, prescription, or food additive, which has ever been proven safe for an unborn baby. Smoking: Be aware that being around residual smoke is also dangerous. Alcohol; aluminum; mercury; chemicals, including some household cleaners, pesticides, and environ-mental pollutants; caffeine; artificial sweeteners, including nutrasweet; additives and preservatives. Junk foods and processed foods often contain potentially dangerous substances like monosodium glutimate and they also fill you up so that you no longer feel hungry and can't eat a full day's pregnancy food requirements.

Procedures to be Educated About

As with everything you take into your body, for every procedure which deviates from the natural process, you must first weigh its benefits against its risks before you can make a responsible decision.

  • Ultrasound: The National Institute of Health has warned that ultrasound should not be used routinely. Ultrasound devices include doptone (for listening to the baby's heartbeat), ultrasound scan, and the external fetal monitor.
  • Vaginal exams during pregnancy: According to a study released by the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. Hospital, Royal Air Force Lankenheath, U.K., pelvic exams in pregnancy increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes.

 

Rest and Relaxation

Most women need extra rest during pregnancy. This is an important time to be good to yourself. You should also avoid excess stress; cut down on your day-to-day responsibilities and take precautions so that you are not under too much stress. It is also very important that you feel good about your labor and birth plan, including your choice of birth place, birth team, etc. Educate yourself by taking the Bradley classes and by reading the books listed on the back page.

Relaxation is the key to the Bradley Method and can be very helpful even for women who have not practiced much prior to labor. But it is the couple who has faithfully practiced and really mastered the relaxation techniques taught in class who can realize fully the incredible benefits of deep relaxation in labor.

Education

You can't prepare well for the many challenges you will face in labor if you don't know what to expect. Many women become high risk during the course of their pregnancies because of lack of information or misinformation. You may come for a free "Healthy Pregnancy Class" any time after you learn you are pregnant. And when you are in your 5th or 6th month, you may begin the 12- week series of Bradley classes.

 

 

Back to top