Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.


This week on Health Watch, we're offering some hints for new habits to start, old habits to break or other changes. If you’re pregnant, it's not only your own health you have to worry about. To give your baby the best possible chance, you need to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. But what about other changes, like diet and exercise?

Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, an obstetrician/gynecologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says pregnancy isn’t a good time to start a rigorous new exercise program or strict weight-loss diet. If your doctor gives you the OK, you can get a little extra activity, like taking neighborhood walks. And instead of following a strict diet, you should try to eat sensibly. After the baby is born, a mom-and-baby exercise class can help you get back to pre-pregnancy shape.

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^{January 2006}

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