Nine Months Strong: Shaping Up for Labor and Delivery and the Toughest Physical Day of Your Life [Paperback]

Karen Bridson (Author), Karin J. Blakemore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Giving birth is arguably the most difficult physical event of a woman's life, yet most women - even those in great shape - enter the delivery room wholly unprepared for the rigours of labour and demands of early motherhood. But you can train for childbirth as you would for any other athletic event to minimise your discomfort, prevent injury, and ease your delivery. Bridson, an exercise coach and four-time marathoner, decided to prepare her body for the impending trials of childbirth and recovery by training her muscles, much as she had trained for her marathons. She bounced back so quickly from her pregnancy that she was able to complete her fourth marathon only seven months after giving birth. In Nine Months Strong, Bridson shares her groundbreaking plan for pregnancy fitness and training for delivery. With the added expertise of medical advisor Karin Blakemore, M.D., and numerous instructional illustrations, Bridson provides medically sound, easy-to-follow guidance on how to: Prevent backache during and after pregnancy Strengthen the abdominal and pelvic muscles necessary for labour Maintain healthy posture despite physical discomfort Bulk up arms for carrying baby Condition nipples for nursing Stretch vaginal muscles for less painful labour Choose the right positions during labour and delivery Minimize postpartum weight gain and recovery period Drawing from her experience as a coach, athlete, and mother, Bridson presents the most complete pregnancy fitness guide available. From marathoners to fitness novices, all women will benefit from Bridson's honest advice and proven approach to materal fitness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Outstanding-—required reading for anyone planning on having a baby. -- Julia Rosien, Senior Editor, ePregnancy.com

About the Author

Karen Bridson is a certified personal trainer, four-time marathon competitor, and personal running coach. She has directed marathon and half-marathon clinics and is a certified pre- and postnatal fitness instructor through Canada’s Baby & Me Fitness organization. An award-winning freelance journalist and author of Run For It: A Woman’s Guide to Running for Emotional and Physical Health, Bridson lives in Toronto with her husband and their young son. Contact Bridson at [e-mail].

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lifeline Press (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895260913
• ISBN-13: 978-0895260918
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,142,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm an award-winning freelance journalist specializing in women's health issues. I've published three books and I'm working on my fourth. Fifteen years ago I was 45 pounds heavier than I am now; I recently completed my sixth marathon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Pregnancy Book, December 12, 2008

By 

Shrazzie (WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nine Months Strong: Shaping Up for Labor and Delivery and the Toughest Physical Day of Your Life (Paperback)

This is the greatest pregnancy book ever. Not only does it explain and show you how to get in shape and prepare for the most physically difficult day of your life, it goes into every detail about every part of pregnancy and labor. Karen discusses proper nutrition, the best labor poses (with pictures), every exercise to prepare your body for the challenge- including advanced kegals and perineum massage, as well as how to get your baby into the right position for birth, what maneuvers help the baby move down quicker, and how to naturally induce, if need be. It even covers breastfeeding. I don't think any detail is overlooked. My only regret is that I didn't order this book sooner.
This will be my preg bible for the next one!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 30, 2011

By 

Nipp Mama - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nine Months Strong: Shaping Up for Labor and Delivery and the Toughest Physical Day of Your Life (Paperback)

This is a great book for an expectant mom that wants to stay fit! Her other book, "The Secrets of Skinny Chicks," helped me on the path to lose 60 pounds in a healthy way before I became pregnant. This book is helping me on the path to keep my strength and health while being pregnant. It is written in an easy-to-follow fashion, and has lots of great information.