Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site randvax.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall From: edhall@randvax.ARPA (Ed Hall) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: pregnancy and exercise - (nf) Message-ID: <1718@randvax.ARPA> Date: Fri, 24-Feb-84 16:12:03 EST Article-I.D.: randvax.1718 Posted: Fri Feb 24 16:12:03 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Mar-84 13:42:47 EST References: <5822@uiucdcs.UUCP> Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica Lines: 21 ------------------------------- I've no answer to this (other than to say that it depends upon the woman concerned), but there is one point I've read about that should probably be mentioned: the body develops an `oxygen deficit' during vigorous exercise, and deals with this lack by reducing oxygen to `less essential' areas. For example, heavy exercise after a meal can cause stomach cramps due to the shunting of blood from the digestive system and towards the muscles. Now, the pregnant uterus is a `high- priority' organ, and most heavy exercise won't affect its blood supply. But sustained, all-out exercise can cause blood to be shunted from here as well. I'm not talking about aerobics--something more like running a marathon. There is obvious survival value here; a woman's body will usually do all it can to support the fetus, but in a dire emergency will take care of itself. Does anyone have any more information on this particular subject? -Ed Hall decvax!randvax!edhall