On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:01:41 -0600, Pennyaline wrote:

> cshenk wrote:
>> "Stan Horwitz" wrote
>>
>>> Why would an expectant mother need preferential parking? Most expectant
>>> mothers I have known were perfectly capable of walking to a store from
>>> any location in a parking lot and that includes a colleague of mine who
>>> is due next month who walks a few blocks to her car at work every day
>>> without a problem.
>>
>> If it's her first with no others in tow, it's not really needed. I do know
>> I needed them at the very end just before labor. Say, last 2 weeks? I
>> could walk of course, but not 'fast' and any distance became somewhat hard
>> to manage. Has to do with how the hips adjust in the later stages (so I was
>> told).
>
> All of the joints "soften" during pregnancy, preparing to allow the
> pelvic bones to separate to allow delivery. Pregnancy also puts a
> greater strain on the cardiopulmonary system, and the enlarged and heavy
> uterus compresses the vena cava, pelvic blood vessels and the urinary
> bladder. It also inhibits effective breathing by limiting diaphragmatic
> excursion. Feet and legs swell. The gait is a waddle. The body is off
> balance. Walking can become very hard, indeed.
>
> However, it is wonderful to hear from men who, based on their
> observations, have determined that activity during pregnancy is no big
> deal for "most expectant mothers." Keep up the good work, guys.

yep. let them walk a mile with swollen feet in another's moccasins.

your pal,
blake