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Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year: A Guide to Health and Comfort Before and After Your Baby Is Born
Exercise programs designed to ease the burdens of pregnancy on the average, underexercised woman
- GenresHealth
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
5 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Noble
11 books1 followerElizabeth Noble was born and raised in Australia, where she completed studies in physiotherapy, philosophy, and anthropology. She was an American Field Service Exchange Student to Tucson, AZ in 1961.
In 1973 after living abroad, she returned to the USA and founded the Section on Women's Health of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Her first book was Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year, now in a revised 4th edition. After its publication she was invited to create a video with MGM of an exercise program she designed for Marie Osmond during her first pregnancy. Two more books resulted: Marie Osmond's Exercises for Mothers-to-Be, and Marie Osmond's Exercises for Mothers and Babies.
She wrote the first book for expectant parents of multiples, now in its 3rd edition, Having Twins--and More. Her interest in psychology led her to write Primal Connections: How our Experiences from Conception to Birth Influence our Emotions, Behavior and Health and Childbirth with Insight. A fierce advocate for the rights of children, she wrote Having Your Baby by Donor Insemination and The Joy of Being a Boy.
Her decades of presenting seminars, and professional membership in National Speakers Association, honed her interest in communication. Her website, ennobler.net provides resources on international communication issues as does her latest book, Winners Speak Globish.
In 1973 after living abroad, she returned to the USA and founded the Section on Women's Health of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Her first book was Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year, now in a revised 4th edition. After its publication she was invited to create a video with MGM of an exercise program she designed for Marie Osmond during her first pregnancy. Two more books resulted: Marie Osmond's Exercises for Mothers-to-Be, and Marie Osmond's Exercises for Mothers and Babies.
She wrote the first book for expectant parents of multiples, now in its 3rd edition, Having Twins--and More. Her interest in psychology led her to write Primal Connections: How our Experiences from Conception to Birth Influence our Emotions, Behavior and Health and Childbirth with Insight. A fierce advocate for the rights of children, she wrote Having Your Baby by Donor Insemination and The Joy of Being a Boy.
Her decades of presenting seminars, and professional membership in National Speakers Association, honed her interest in communication. Her website, ennobler.net provides resources on international communication issues as does her latest book, Winners Speak Globish.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 24, 2009
WOW! This book has moved up to #1 spot for books that every woman even considering having a baby MUST read. I'm more than 1/2 way through my pregnancy and I found this book to be insightful, empowering, and educational. Not only was it helpful to see which exercises can harm different muscle groups (Never do a double-leg raise) but it was clear that the author, with 30+ years of experience as a physical therapist helping pregnant woman, is very supportive of the best way for a woman to give birth. She doesn't attack any of the interventions used, and acknowledges the times that birth interventions are necessary, but clarifies that all interventions are gravely overused, especially in the US. (By the way, she is a natural home-birthing...I think unassisted. She definitely supports this choice in childbirth, but I didn't feel like she was trying to convince me to go that route at all.)
Reading the book the feeling I got was "you can have the best birth possible. You can be healthy, birth a healthy baby, AND have a great experience." To quote Noble directly: "...because childbirth has become medicalized and institutionalized, its experiential value is often overlooked. it is not enough to focus on 'healthy mothers and healthy babies.' We want a healthy baby and mother AND a good experience. Health in its broadest sense is much more than the absense of disease; it is a state of well-being. The keys are empowerment and trust in your body, both of which have to be re-learned in this culture and protected."
I could go on and on in raving about this book. Bottom line: I am so excited for my upcoming natural birth, and I definitely see my body, my pregnancy, and my birth in a different way.
Reading the book the feeling I got was "you can have the best birth possible. You can be healthy, birth a healthy baby, AND have a great experience." To quote Noble directly: "...because childbirth has become medicalized and institutionalized, its experiential value is often overlooked. it is not enough to focus on 'healthy mothers and healthy babies.' We want a healthy baby and mother AND a good experience. Health in its broadest sense is much more than the absense of disease; it is a state of well-being. The keys are empowerment and trust in your body, both of which have to be re-learned in this culture and protected."
I could go on and on in raving about this book. Bottom line: I am so excited for my upcoming natural birth, and I definitely see my body, my pregnancy, and my birth in a different way.
February 28, 2018
i must buy this book...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
Solid, practical advice.
August 18, 2022
I am a licensed massage therapist. I read this book in preparation for an intensive Prenatal Massage continuing education course. The exercises given in this text are thoughtful and thorough, reflecting the author’s holistic physical therapy approach. However, I rated it just 3 stars because it was last revised 20 years ago - and it shows. This book severely lacks in inclusive language. Sometimes, what the author is presenting as opinion is done in such a way as to be a proven fact, instead of inviting the reader to consider the point further by posing a theory or question. This book also has to be taken with a grain of salt where the author includes “quips” and opinions and generalities: some of these are cringey and eye-rolling to down right condescending, and at times, even inappropriate.
June 24, 2010
I find this book invaluable. These are things that a medical doctor will never take the time to teach you and yet it can increase the chances of a safe, healthy birth experience for the mother as well as the child. I especially appreciate the many ways she describes how you can help avoid the need for an episiotomy. She also goes over the best positions to push in, which are not the same positions that the nurses at a hospital will put you in!
One word of warning before you read this book: the author is a bit unorganized, which can easily discourage the reader. I recommend finding the quick reference to the "Essential Exercises" in the back of the book first so you can be doing exercises from the beginning. Then, if you really want to read the entire book (which I think you should) start with Chapter 4 on the abdominal muscles because that is where she talks about positions and pushing during labor. Next, go to Chapter 3 on the pelvic floor muscles (avoid an episiotomy!) and then Chapter 5 on posture (she covers good laboring positions in this chapter, too). Those are the truly essential parts of the book!
One word of warning before you read this book: the author is a bit unorganized, which can easily discourage the reader. I recommend finding the quick reference to the "Essential Exercises" in the back of the book first so you can be doing exercises from the beginning. Then, if you really want to read the entire book (which I think you should) start with Chapter 4 on the abdominal muscles because that is where she talks about positions and pushing during labor. Next, go to Chapter 3 on the pelvic floor muscles (avoid an episiotomy!) and then Chapter 5 on posture (she covers good laboring positions in this chapter, too). Those are the truly essential parts of the book!
March 22, 2008
I really like this book. I think I should be handed out with pregnancy tests at doctors offices. The book is by a phsyical therapist and she includes exercises for before, during and after pregnancy.
She talks about pregnancy pains and how to minimize SI pains and all the other pains most people just say 'sucks to be you' about. I wish I had this book two pregnancies ago!
She talks about pregnancy pains and how to minimize SI pains and all the other pains most people just say 'sucks to be you' about. I wish I had this book two pregnancies ago!
February 20, 2011
This book should be on everyone's pregnancy reading list. If you are pregnant or have recently had a baby, the abdominal chapter alone is worth it. Ever wonder why you still have a pouch even though you exercised and did your crunches??
My only regret is that I didn't discover this book until my second pregnancy!
My only regret is that I didn't discover this book until my second pregnancy!
February 26, 2008
Very helpful to stay in good physical condition throughout pregnancy.
July 29, 2011
This book is such a great resource for any woman. It outlines the importance of exercise and has drawings of each exercise to make it easy to follow along.
June 5, 2012
This has been my bible to help train women for birth, as well as help rehabilitate abs and pelvic floor following birth.
August 24, 2012
I liked this book and its got good information and partners exercise that i thought were cool.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews