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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pregnancy Needn’t End Exercise

Associated Press

Peg Moline didn’t let her pregnancy keep her from rowing until it became too hard for her to fit in the boat.

“I was up with my crew until the seventh month,” said Moline. “I couldn’t get into or out of the boat without help. And there wasn’t any room to row any more.”

Moline, a Mar Vista, Calif., resident, turned to walking until she gave birth to her second daughter.

Moline’s problems in finding a way to keep active while pregnant fit a pattern common to women who like to exercise, but who have to adjust during pregnancy.

Moderate exercise helps control the weight and should continue, although women may have to accept some changes, especially the last three months.

In general, aerobic exercise should be done at a less intense level - about 20 heartbeats per minute less than what a nonpregnant woman would do, said Larry A. Wolfe, a physical and health education professor in Ontario.

Guidelines may err on the side of caution, he said, because there is too little known about how hard pregnant women can safely work.