Nine Months Strong

Book excerpt: Giving birth is arguably the most difficult physical event of a woman's life, yet most women - even those in great shape - enter the delivery room wholly unprepared for the rigours of labour and demands of early motherhood. But you can train for childbirth as you would for any other athletic event to minimise your discomfort, prevent injury, and ease your delivery. Bridson, an exercise coach and four-time marathoner, decided to prepare her body for the impending trials of childbirth and recovery by training her muscles, much as she had trained for her marathons. She bounced back so quickly from her pregnancy that she was able to complete her fourth marathon only seven months after giving birth. In Nine Months Strong, Bridson shares her groundbreaking plan for pregnancy fitness and training for delivery. With the added expertise of medical advisor Karin Blakemore, M.D., and numerous instructional illustrations, Bridson provides medically sound, easy-to-follow guidance on how to: Prevent backache during and after pregnancy Strengthen the abdominal and pelvic muscles necessary for labour Maintain healthy posture despite physical discomfort Bulk up arms for carrying baby Condition nipples for nursing Stretch vaginal muscles for less painful labour Choose the right positions during labour and delivery Minimize postpartum weight gain and recovery period Drawing from her experience as a coach, athlete, and mother, Bridson presents the most complete pregnancy fitness guide available. From marathoners to fitness novices, all women will benefit from Bridson's honest advice and proven approach to materal fitness.