Baby on Board

The only time Paula Radcliffe seems to carry any body fat is when she's toting around her 9-month-old daughter around. Mothers, new and old alike, are still in awe over the British marathoner's ability to win the famed NYC marathon months after giving birth. The AP reports that she ran the 26.2 miles in 2 hours and 23 minutes (we've sat through football games this weekend that lasted longer) just 291 days after delivering little Isla. While running a marathon is an achievement for anyone, preggers or not, her accomplishment has stirred up debate on just how much exercise is safe for mommies-to-be.

Some docs feel that for ladies in tip-top shape to begin with, continuing their current level of activity into the early months of pregnancy should be fine as long as they cut back in the later stages and resume after giving birth. Those same docs ask that couch potatoes and weekend-warriors try not to engage in new strenuous work-out programs where they may overdo it as they feel the pregnancy pounds accumulating. (See more here.)

However, most physicians are not certain on how much exercise is unsafe, due to little research on the matter (pregnant women aren't necessarily the most willing test subjects). What is known is that women who've had cesarean sections usually take longer to recover and restart their usual workouts and should definitely wait until their incisions are healed before hitting the running trail. (Radcliffe happened to start running 12 days after giving birth.)

Strangely some of the physical changes involved with pregnancy, such as increased blood flow, may improve physical performance. But an enlarged belly can shift a woman's center of gravity and increased hormones swimming through the bloodstream may lead to looser and more easily injured ligaments and joints. Thus, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists encourages more low impact exercises for the expectant, including swimming, walking, and yoga.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Kapil Desai in News on November 12, 2007 1:34 PM

Comments [rss]

freddyhere

Physiology 101 - isn't blood shunted AWAY from the uterus to the skeletal muscles when you're exercising...?

freddyhere

She's a freak, pure and simple - I would not recommend any ambitious jewish soccer moms following her lead. Anyhow, she reminds me of John-John's wife - definitely not a fan of the handsome chiseled variety...

moonbeam

Interesting thought, lower manhattan. Is it possible for a baby to suffer brain damage in utero from the mother's activity?

yaeligirl

So what's the woman who wins the marathon supposed to look like?? Rosie O'Donnell? We saw her running through Brooklyn and I must say she is an incredible running machine. Nonetheless, LOL to your comment, chuzzlewit!!!! I feel bad laughing but whateva.

bxbrian

search me, but is anyone else outraged that the baby has his/her hands in the air, like it achieved something?

Hey, baby! All you did was be born. Your mom did the work for both accomplishments! Put your hands down and get back to shitting yourself and causing a nuisance.

Ingrate.

lower manhattan

Isn't there any need to worry about shaken baby syndrome??

Såkandulæredet

LOL. I saw her running from my window. She IS skelator. But she's damn fast too. Watching the marathon is so funny because the leaders are soooooo far ahead of everyone else, that it takes so long before you see anyone else after they pass.

bxbrian

Hey I think she pulled off an incredible feat! I remember track days, seeing runners that looked like her all the time.

I was obviously on shot-put, though. We were the kids in the back of the field eating Quarter Pounders, throwing 12lb balls and gruntng :D

JRod5417

You're just a bunch of haters. She's hot!

bigandtall

I think she's amazing. Skeletor? Have you ever seen a world class runner? That's what they look like.

bxbrian

Put some damn pants on, Skeletor!!

chuzzlewit

yup. when Death hops on your back and you can't get it off no matter how hard you twist and struggle, if you do happen to catch a glimpse of it, it'll look a lot like Paula Radcliffe.