I have read exercise mags that say that a woman should start preparing her body long before she decides to get pregnant things like crunches to help strengthen your stomach muscles for pushing the baby out. Is this true? What about lifting weights? Should I start these things now at 26 so when I'm 34 I can already have my body be baby ready?

It never hurts to exercise and be in shape. Toning your stomach can help but I don't think it is any sure fired guarantee that you will be in greater shape once you have a baby than if you hadn't exercised. But again it is always healthy to exercise

The toning they say is not just to stay in shape but to help strengthen stomach muscles needed for pushing the baby out.

Yeah it helps

As was said, exercise is always a good thing. Women who have exercised on a fairly regular basis do tend to have an easier time... not that labor goes faster, or is less painful, but they tend to have more stamina, which is obviously helpful if it happens to be a prolonged labor.
One of the best things you can do is to make any lifestyle changes that you know would be healthy... this goes for men as well. Avoid being around cigarettes, watch the alcohol intake, get in the habit of healthy and varied food choices, start on folic acid (can get the amount most often recommended in a good multivitamin... 400mcg... it is known to help prevent certain types of birth defects that take place in the very early weeks of pregnancy). This is especially important even before conception takes place, so it is suggested all women of childbearing age, who are sexually active, make sure they get enough. These days it really isn't too difficult if you are eating well and many foods/drinks are fortified with it, but the vitamin would give extra insurance.
Never hurts to learn how your body responds to stress and practice ways to deal with it in a healthy manner. Again, exercise is a good help in this area... as are things like yoga, tai chi, and meditation. If you practice some of these types of things on a regular basis now, when you do find yourself in labor down the road, your body will automatically respond by relaxing and reducing stress hormones which will benefit you, your baby, and your labor.

Thank you doula... what about after you have the baby how do you shed that baby weight and where does it all come from? I thought the extra weight came from the baby alone? Another question how do I eat enough to make the baby healthy but so much to where I'm overweight after the pregnancy?

Breast feeding helps you to lose the baby fat.
Do not do the eat for two where you over eat.
Eat three healthy meals a day.
Keep eating healthy after too.

Are you planning on trying to get pregnant soon?

thank you doula ....what about after you have the baby how do you shed that baby weight and where does it all come from? I thought the extra weight came from the baby alone? another question how do i eat enough to make the baby healthy but so much to where im overweight after the pregnancy?


The weight comes from baby, but also amniotic fluid, uterus and breasts enlarging, increased blood volume, placenta, etc.. If you eat a healthy, well balanced diet you will do just fine. Grazing throughout the day is a good way to go (really for everyone)... sensible meals, in both what you're eating and the amount, and a couple of healthy snacks. The statement "eating for two" does not mean two helpings of everything!

Pregnancy is not a time to diet in an effort to lose weight or to avoid gaining too much, however, it is not a free for all either. Some women take it as carte blanche to eat whatever and as much as they want to. The current recommendation for weight gain has actually come down slightly from where it was just several years ago. The pendulum swings back and forth... many years ago women purposely gained about 10 pounds... then it went to gaining quite a bit in hopes of having a healthy, rolly polly baby, but most women still had average sized babies and a lot of weight to lose afterwards!

Breast feeding helps you to lose the baby fat.
Do not do the eat for two where you over eat.
Eat three healthy meals a day.
Keep eating healthy after too.

Are you planning on trying to get pregnant soon?

Oh gosh no lol not until I'm in my thirties just want to know these things to prepare... I like to be prepared.

Doula can a pregnant woman do appropriate weight training during the pregnancy

Missed the weight loss after baby part... like Nohelp4u said, breastfeeding helps many women as it actually burns quite a bit of calories... but some women do feel they got gypped when they don't lose it like they think they should! Again, eating sensibly and getting daily exercise is key... you will have to take it slow at first, and usually anything more vigorous than something like walking would have to wait until after your postpartum checkup at about 6 weeks. One rule of thumb you sometimes hear is 9 months on, 9 months off, but many women find it doesn't take that long and if you don't go overboard with the weight gain in the first place, it can often be relatively easy. Everyone is different though just as with normally trying to get into shape... some people find weight loss very easy, others find it more challenging.

oh gosh no lol not until im in my thirties just want to know these things to prepare...i like to be prepared.

Doula can a pregnant woman do appropriate weight training during the pregnancy


Yes, it can be very helpful to continue through pregnancy. It is best to already have a program going and be used to what you are doing instead of starting when pregnant, but even that can be helpful when done thoughtfully.

Depending on what you are doing, some modifications may be wise, especially as the pregnancy progresses... such as squats with free weights. The reason for this is that one hormone in pregnancy is called relaxin and it does exactly what it sounds like... "relaxes" the joints. Part of this is designed to allow a bit of expansion of the pelvis as baby comes through, but all joints can get quite loose feeling and extra care is sometimes needed to prevent injury. You can find DVDs, as well as classes, for all sorts of exercising during pregnancy.