Fitness Business Canada Reviewed by Tiffany Moffatt
How refreshing to have a comprehensive Canadian resource on exercise and pregnancy, one that brings together the expertise and various strengths of a physician, personal trainer and physical therapist! Based upon the three principles of "prevention," "preparation," and "restoration," this easy to read guide on exercise during pregnancy explores how to reduce pregnancy symptoms through exercise, how to strengthen the muscles needed in labor and how exercise will ease recovery postpartum. "Tips from the Team" throughout the book offer little treasures of information for exercising moms, including advice on how to prevent back pain and how to stretch effectively. Plenty of photographs throughout Fit to Deliver aptly illustrate the authors’ well-chosen stretches, warm up, and muscular conditioning exercises. The Fit to Deliver team devotes a chapter to pregnancy posture and in turn do a nice job outlining stretches and core conditioning exercises that target muscles compromised by poor pregnancy posture. Just like any good personal trainer, the book offers variety in the cardiovascular exercise programs, with specific guidelines for walking and water fitness routines, as well as stationary cycling, stairclimber, crosstrainer and rowing workouts. Variety is also the main focus of the strength training routine, in which alternatives for different trimesters and numerous exercises are illustrated to avoid boredom. The last chapter puts it all together by outlining programs for each trimester and for beginner, intermediate and advanced moms-to-be. Overall, the combined voices of the three authors are authoritative and knowledgeable. Fit to Deliver expels any old myths and misconceptions the reader may have had on exercise and pregnancy and offers up-to-date guidelines for a safe and effective workout.

The Vancouver Sun (Sept 18,2000) writes:Pregnant and fit.
Dr. Karen Nordahl, a Vancouver-based family physician and co-author of a just released book about exercise and pregnancy called Fit to Deliver says the common fears about exercise during pregnancy are unfounded. " There is no relationship between exercise and miscarriage or premature labour," she says. And as long as women don't try to climb Mount Everest where oxygen is a problem for everyone, there is no danger of depriving the baby of oxygen with a tough cardiac workout. Nordahl quotes a five-year study by Dr. James Clapp, a physiologist in the maternal physiology lab at Case Western University in Cincinnati that found children born to exercising mothers began life with a much easier labour-fewer C section and forceps deliveries and shorter labours. They also had less excess fat as they grew and grasped spatial and motor skills sooner than the children of non-exercising mothers.

Directions in Physiotherapy (Nov 2000) writes:
Going for Gold- Elite athlete trainer and co-author of the prenatal program Fit to Deliver, Carl Petersen's career show's the sky's the limit for physiotherapists with skill and drive. He admits to working 10-12 hour days five days a week, and says he wears many hats: physiotherapist, coach, lecturer, author, consultant and film producer. Speaking four languages, he puts them to the test with extensive travels between sojourns at Cit Sports & Physiotherapy Clinic's. Petersen is recognized as an expert in designing training programs and recovery protocols for both elite and recreational athletes. He has written over 100 journal articles for a variety of scientific, professional journals and lay magazines on all aspects of health, fitness, physiotherapy and sports medicine.

Moms in Motion says the book Fit to Deliver is:
An outstanding guide to all aspects of keeping fit during pregnancy. Fit to Deliver is a practical workbook tailored for different fitness levels and stages of pregnancy that focuses strictly on fitness during pregnancy to help women prevent common complaints during pregnancy, prepare for delivery and restore their figures more quickly during postpartum. It is the only program of its kind created with the input of a physician, personal trainer and physical therapist.
This complete book includes suggestions for exercises, aerobics, strength training, stretches and nutritional recommendations for all three trimesters.

Canoe.com - Fitwise by Karen Tankard writes: Exercise and Pregnancy:
Part 2 Fit to Deliver.
You're more likely than ever before to run into a pregnant woman engaged in exercise, especially if you're a gym member. That's because many fitness facilities are developing specialized exercise programs with expectant moms in mind.

One of the people leading the way is Dr. Karen Nordahl, a physician who practices in Burnaby, British Columbia. She's one of the creators of, 'Fit to Deliver', a fitness program designed especially for pregnant women. A book based on the program has just been released.

Nordahl began researching exercise and pregnancy in 1996 because her female patients kept asking for exercise guidelines. "I didn't have a lot of information and the fitness industry didn't know very much about it either," Nordahl says.

Nordahl says there are numerous emotional and physiological benefits to exercising pregnant. "You tend to feel more energized when you exercise, you tend to sleep better and day to day activities don't seem to be as difficult if you're fitter," she says.

Expect to hear a lot more about Fit to Deliver in the coming months.

Kinnected (British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists) Vol 9, issue 4, Nov 2000. Andreja Kovacevic writes in their Resource Review:
Fit to Deliver.: A prenatal fitness guide. A few weeks ago a client of mine approached me with a question, "Is it safe for my wife to begin an exercise routine if she's 3 months pregnant? Most of us have been introduced to the theories of exercising, pregnancy and the issue of safety, but I must admit I've never had to put it to use. When posed with this question I went digging into the library at the BACK and borrowed Fit to Deliver. The first thing that appealed to me about the book was the fact that it was written by three multidisciplinary health care professionals. I found this allowed for a collaboration of ideas and methods into one research material. It's great when you can find all that you're looking for in one place!

I also found the book easy to read and understand which caters to the average person or the avid health professional. For the health professional it allows a thorough breakdown of the exercise progressions from first to third trimester. The vast number of ideas it provides for exercises also helps customize the routine to the individual categorizing them as either beginner, intermediate or advanced in fitness level. Helpful topics such as posture during pregnancy and nutrition during pregnancy are also discussed. If you are currently working with a pregnant population or just want to learn more about the safeties of exercising while pregnant consider taking time out to peruse this books knowledge and wise!

SIDELINES (Sport physiotherapy BC Newsletter) Vol 6, Number 6 Summer 2000 writes in their Bulletin Board section.
Great new text for your clinic or home library! Fit to Deliver: an exercise program for you and your baby. By Karen Nordahl MD; Susi Kerr, BA; Carl Petersen PT.

CONTACT (Official News magazine of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association) January/February 2001 writes in their Profiling members section:
Carl Petersen (Vancouver BC.)- teamed up with Karen Nordahl(MD) and Susi Kerr (personal trainer) to co-author and self publish the book, "Fit to Deliver," outlining an exercise program for expecting and new mothers and their babies.

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