Local fitness instructor Joanne Kates believes the days of treating pregnant women as temperamental invalids are over.. Up until vesy recently, studics delving into the physiological dynamics of childbearing were pinned to research using mammals such as rats, guinea pigs and mice rather than humans. Kates * would like to get the message out that exercising while pregnant pays off in improved self-image, tension relief and a decrease: in the common discom- forts of pregnancy such as low” back pain: To. add fucl to the impetus for local pregnant women to exercise, , Kates says an LGH_ study, in- vestigating excessive weight gain in “pregnancy asa cause of ‘adverse health’.in. mother and fetus, . has. | “vdetermined,, that “North -Shore “>< ‘women. gain’ on’ average 35. to 40 Ibs. during pregnancy. ‘Ideal weight" gain is: somewhere between 25 to | _ 30, Ibs... The hospital also has a, “larger ‘than. average. number of Caesarean births. A’ 2-year’ Michigan ‘study of. “V4 low-risk pregnant women sug- s aerobic exercise. maintain: and - _ enhance pre-pregnancy « ‘levels of. fi itness. °: ’ 2 The: study also found that ihere ignificant difference . be-. non-exercising group ‘in: type’ of delivery, gestational: age. at ‘delivery, fetal. birth . weight.. and: obstetric complications. “A. 1987-released UBC. study by oe ~ temporary poets, : Raber ae will - be appearing in Vancouver, 8 p.m. Koril 14 at Kitsilano High School, 2550 West’ 10th Ave. ‘poetry exploring the rich, deep tex- tures: of | love, “nature: and’ the | psyche. . “His: recent books have included’, Loving a Woman in Two Worlds, Selected Poems and.a book of coming ee “pregnancy and its effect on: oul- “classes to pregnant a a : - gests women who perform regular "three times a week right to the day tween, the’ exercising group. and | al ‘muscle toning;’ tension 'relense.and ecomimends’ women who: haven't vbw __ the: departments: of sports science Bly will present’ an evening. of Thoreau’s writing with commen- . : 4 " 47 - Sunday, April 10, 1988 - North Shore News. | Pregnant question was rude PAGE 48 FITNESS INSTRUCTOR SAYS DISCOMFORT DECREASES Exercising while pregnant pays off | RECENT STUDIES are showing that pregnant women can benefit from an ongoing program of exercise. By MICHAEL BECKER News Keporter and: faniily practice, looking at cardiorespiratory fitness during come, found a decrease in the se- cond stage of Jabor in its trained” subjects. , Researchers suspect the reduced second’ stage of Jabor in. fit mothers is duc to. increased car- diorespiratory fitness and the abili-. ty to postpone fatigue. during. the active stage of labor. Kates kas been offering exercise” women cver since she was pregnant. with her first child six years aga. .‘'It's lots of fun to see all these women BO through’ their first” pregnancies,"'. ‘ she said, “During pregnancy, ¢x-, ercising women: feel: as Jot” better, have the emotional. support’ of a-. group, ‘recover faster, and.if the labor. is longer, they are able” to : cope with it better.*’ oh . Being fit also means being better able to relax the body, —a definite plus during labor. ticks : : Bye a a Wwe gmost of ie art . JOANNE KATES, heft, leads pregnast » women in acrobic exercise + regularly on 1 the North ‘Shore: Recent studies pregnancy and if there are no neg- fink Fitness with improved deliveries and Siuieker recovery time for Abe. body. ative medical signs, exercise two or # - first trimester while the body’ i is ‘ad: justing to. changes and while the fetus is. going through -major changes. “*Pregnancy itself is train- ing with the resting heart rate in- creasing and blood volume i increas- ‘ing,’ * she said. ° of delivery. °.. She focuses. her group efforts on’ pelvic. floor exercises... Kates - been exercising ‘regularly, ‘should - start after the first ‘trimester: and, suggests all: women ‘cut down: on: cardiovascular exercise during the \ For ‘more’: tiformation, contact Kates at 922-0415. tary, The Winged ‘Life. : : Bly’s. poetry ‘integrates Jungian, mythic and mystical perspectives “out of thin ; air, his poetry ‘reaulings