Pregnancy Fitness

I have been doing a lot of reading and research on running/ fitness while pregnant. My biggest find is that the whole 'heart-rate' thing is out the window!
Dr.s are now using perceived effort-
this is from an artice on Paula Radcliffe, the woman that wone the NYC Marathon-
"Heart-rate precautions do not have scientific backing, said Dr. Mona Shangold, director of the Center for Women’s Health and Sports Gynecology in Philadelphia, and an expert recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Gynecologists no longer recommend even monitoring a pregnant woman’s heart rate if she exercises because heart rates vary so much from pre-pregnancy levels, as do the heart rate’s responses to exercise.
Dr. Shangold recommends using perceived effort as a guide and making sure that the effort remains moderate."

Here is some info I found on Runningskirts.com
Benefits of Pregnancy Fitness:There is a lot of recent research about the safety and benefits of running during pregnancy for both mom and baby, some of these include:
Healthier Moms
-regular exercise during pregnancy builds stamina and prepares & strengthens muscles and body for delivery
-running during pregnancy reduces fatigue, nausea and constipation
-maternity exercise has been proven to help prevent gestational diabetes
-maternity fitness contributes to shorter labor & less delivery complications
-fit mommies have fewer c-sections
-running moms also experience less lower back pain
-moms to be who exercise also have less swelling of extremities
Happier Moms
-regular exercise and/or running promotes well being and less postpartum depression
-pregnancy fitness regimens lead to quick recoveries & return to pre-pregnancy weight
-a fit mom has less anxiety & stress related to pregnancy
-better sleep, less insomniaYummy Mummies
-running during pregnancy prevents excessive weight gain
-cardio exercise during pregnancy increases blood flow to skin = healthy glow
-pregnant running improves posture & appearance
-It's just makes you look & feel better!
-A regular moderate running program leads to increased energy in first and second trimesters
-Maintaining fitness during pregnancy helps moms regain pre-pregnancy body quicker
-Running and other moderate impact exercise leads to less development of varicose veins
Happier Babies
-A regular pregnancy fitness regimen better prepares baby for transition from womb
-Pregnancy Running increases blood circulation & placental efficiency
-Running while pregnant also increases newborn baby's capacity to self calm & self quiet
Healthier Babies
-Regular exercise decreases baby fat without decreasing normal growth
-Cardio fitness leads to increased blood flow from placenta which supplies nutrition & oxygen to the fetus
Smarter Babies
-Mommies who run have increased fetal movements, which studies have shown leads to quicker development of oral language skills
Most experts recommend continuing any fitness activities and moderate exercise you participated in prior to becoming pregnant, but scaling back the intensity and duration of your workouts. Of course, you should avoid any activities that present elevated risk of falling or injury such as ice skating, roller blading, downhill skiing, snowboarding, downhill cycling, water skiing, etc. Be sure to stay cool & adequately hydrated, especially during warm days and summer months.