JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
One of the top priorities for an expectant mother is to stay
as physically active as possible, since a fit body will benefit both her and
her baby.
A class scheduled from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 13 in the
second-floor dental conference room at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
Medical Clinic will give expectant mothers a blueprint to follow in maintaining
or achieving an optimal fitness level during and after pregnancy.
Titled “Fit Mom,” the class is a collaboration of the
JBSA-Randolph Physical Therapy Clinic and the New Parent Support Program, which
offers expectant parents and the parents of newborn and children under the age
of 3 the opportunity to learn new parenting skills or improve old ones.
“We’ve come together in a partnership that will educate
women on the benefits of exercise during pregnancy,” Audrey Thompson, NPSP
manager, said. “We recognize a need for women to understand the proper
exercises they should do when they’re pregnant – exercises that will help them
prevent injuries.”
Capt. Brittany McCright, 359th Medical Operations Squadron
Physical Therapy Flight commander, said Fit Mom is not an exercise class.
The prenatal fitness class, which has been offered at
JBSA-Randolph in the past, will show participants what exercises are safe, what
benefits exercise provides them and their babies and what to watch out for
during exercise. Benefits range from enhanced circulation and flexibility to
increased energy, strength and stamina as well as minimized postpartum
depression.
“Our goal is to give
expectant mothers an overview of why they should exercise,” said McCright, who
will serve as instructor. “It’s more of an educational opportunity. We will
give them something to follow and show them which exercises they should avoid.”
McCright said it’s important that women continue their
exercise regimen when they become pregnant.
“Society views pregnant women as fragile, but there is no
reason for a pregnant woman to stop exercising unless directed to do so by her
obstetrician or another physician,” she said. “They may have to modify some of
the things they are doing, but we will go over that and what warning signs to
look for.”
As a physical therapist, McCright said she sees women in
their postpartum phase who are experiencing back pain. She said exercise can
alleviate that pain both during and after pregnancy.
“Part of the problem
is that women don’t know how to get back into the exercises they used to do,”
she said. “They also don’t know what exercises to do while they’re pregnant. If
we can address that while they’re pregnant, we can try to prevent back and
pelvic pain from happening. That’s the goal – to prevent that pain.”
McCright said she will tell class participants what
exercises to avoid and what changes they can expect by trimester. She said
starting the second trimester, expectant mothers should avoid exercises in
which they lie on their backs, such as sit-ups and other abdominal exercises,
but they can engage in aerobic activities, including running and walking “as
long as it’s comfortable.”
“Pregnant women should include cardio work with strength
training,” she said. “The more fit you are, the less likely you will have
complications.”
McCright said she will also address stretching exercises –
which ones to do and those to avoid. She said stretching is an essential part
of prenatal yoga classes that are available in the community.
Exercise also benefits the baby, McCright said.
“They are less likely to be obese and diabetic and are shown
to have better scores on intelligence tests,” she said.
McCright said the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists confirms the benefits of exercise for expectant mothers. ACOG’s
Committee on Obstetric Practice offered an opinion on exercise during pregnancy
and the postpartum period in 2002 that was reaffirmed in 2009.
“In the absence of contraindications, pregnant women should
be encouraged to engage in regular, moderate-intensity physical activity to
continue to derive the same associated health benefits during their pregnancies
as they did prior to pregnancy,” the opinion stated.
Thompson advised that expectant mothers should receive
clearance from their health care provider before engaging in an exercise
program during their pregnancy.
Fit Mom is open to expectant mothers who are TRICARE
beneficiaries. To register, call 652-2448.