Humane Research
The Benefits of Exercise
According to epidemiological data gathered by the Center for Perinatal Studies at the University of Washington, human data consistently show that exercise leads to an approximate 50-percent reduction in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and a 40-percent reduction in the risk of developing preeclampsia.12 These two conditions are among the most dangerous for pregnant women, making exercise a powerful preventative tool. In fact, a review of the clinical literature by reproductive biologist J.F. Clapp found that exercise during pregnancy has a vast array of benefits for both mother and fetus and has no confirmed hazards. For mothers, the benefits include improved cardiovascular function, limited weight gain and fat retention, improved mental health, shorter and less complicated labor, quicker recovery, and improved fitness. For babies, the fetal benefits include a reduced chance of miscarriage, improved fat distribution, improved stress tolerance, and improved neural development.13
Relieving Nausea
A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial using ginger was conducted on 120 pregnant women who were suffering from morning sickness. Nausea decreased significantly on the first day of treatment for the group that used ginger and was just as effective throughout the trial. No maternal or fetal side effects were reported in the ginger group. This study conclusively shows that ginger is a safe and effective way to relieve nausea during pregnancy.14 Other clinical studies confirm these findings and also show vitamin B6 to be another safe and effective option for treating nausea. The importance of these studies is highlighted by the thalidomide tragedy of the late 1950s. Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women to treat nausea based largely on animal studies, but the drug turned out to be highly toxic to the developing human fetus and resulted in thousands of deformities and spontaneous abortions. Clinical trials have shown that pregnant women who take ginger or vitamin B6 for their nausea will not suffer a similar fate.
Uncovering Ineffective Procedures
It has long been believed that episiotomies prevent vaginal tears during delivery and reduce the risk of developing post-delivery pain, incontinence, pelvic-floor disorders, and sexual dysfunction. However, researchers at the University of North Carolina have discovered that women who undergo episiotomies actually experience more pain, wait longer to resume sex, and suffer a greater number of other post-delivery problems than do women who forgo the procedure.15
Preterm delivery can create serious and potentially fatal complications for an infant. Cervical stitches, which doctors use to literally stitch the cervix shut, were once considered effective in preventing early deliveries. However, The Lancet recently published a study of 470 deliveries that found no difference in term length between women with and women without cervical stitches.16 Physicians are now more frequently advising women to avoid this needless surgical procedure.
12. J.C. Dempsey et al., “No Need for a Pregnant Pause: Physical Activity May Reduce the Occurrence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Preeclampsia,” Exercise and Sports Science Reviews 33(3) (2005): 141-49.
13. J.F. Clapp, “Exercise During Pregnancy: A Clinical Update,” Clinical Sports Medicine 19(2) (2000): 273-86.
14. Karen E. Willetts et al., “Effects of a Ginger Extract on Pregnancy-Induced Nausea: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 43(2) (2003): 139.
15. K. Hartmann et al., “Outcomes of Routine Episiotomy: A Systematic Review,” JAMA 293 (2005): 2141-48.
16. Meekai S. To et al., “Cervical Cerclage for Prevention of Preterm Delivery in Women With Short Cervix: Randomized Controlled Trial,” The Lancet 363 (2004): 1849-53.
