As a GPP (Genuine Pregnant Person), I was eager to test drive these two prenatal exercise programs. Prenatal Parenting: The Wirth Prenatal Parenting Exercise Program, partially based on the book Prenatal Parenting: The Complete Psychological and Spiritual Guide to Loving Your Unborn Child by Dr. Frederick Wirth, opens with several testimonials (bordering on an infomercial) about the wonderfulness of the book, plus a short and stagy Q & A with the good doctor, and an overview of the upcoming workout with exercise physiologist Jeffrey Harrison, which features exercises that are all demonstrated by pregnant women, with husbands serving as “coaches.” In fact, the sports metaphor is central to Wirth (who, incidentally, is a pediatrician, not an obstetrician): women are told to “be at their personal best” for labor, to have a “winning mentality,” and to exercise (“you must be mentally tough”) every day. While this jock approach may appeal to some, I found it off-putting; I personally don't need men who have never pushed an eight-pound baby into the world spouting clichés that make them comfortable. A laugh-out-loud moment comes when Harrison earnestly tells the prone women to do some Kegel exercises: “While I can't demonstrate them for you today...” he says; personally, I'd love to see a man demonstrating Kegel exercises any day of the week! Very optional. Aud: P. More fun and friendly by far is The Miracle of Life Pregnancy Workout, lead by GPP Gloria Quinlan, who was not only eight months pregnant at the time, but looked ab fab. Following the cautions and exercise recommendations from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Quinlan leads viewers through a rather vigorous warm-up, a dance-inspired aerobic session, and an active cool-down followed by a yoga-inspired relaxation session. And unlike Dr. Wirth (who has never carried 40 extra pounds of pregnancy-related weight on his body), she recommends taking a day off from exercising when one is too tired! While the VHS is available in either English or Spanish with Quinlan narrating, the DVD includes both. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)
Miracle of Life: Pregnancy Workout; Prenatal Parenting: The Wirth Prenatal Parenting Exercise Program
(1994) 60 min. VHS: $14.98, DVD: $24.98 Wellspring Media (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 1-58350-189-4 (vhs, English), 1-58350-191-6 (vhs, Spanish), 1-58350-190-8 (dvd) December 1, 2003
Miracle of Life: Pregnancy Workout; Prenatal Parenting: The Wirth Prenatal Parenting Exercise Program
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