text: Chapter 12
  PRECAUTIONS FOR POSTPARTUM SOLDIERS
  Commanders and H2F performance personnel must—
   Administer a needs analysis or standardized postpartum questionnaire that
  includes questions about cesarean-section, other delivery complications, or
  profile limitations that will influence exercise performance.
   Offer guidance as to the appropriate modifications required by their individual
  condition or limitations.
   Recondition postpartum Soldiers who have had cesarean sections more slowly
  and modify exercises to reduce jumping, twisting, and pulling on the abdomen.
   Ask postpartum Soldiers if they have a separation midline between vertical
  abdominal muscles and give guidance as to the appropriate abdominal exercises
  based on their condition. A Soldier with a separation of more than two fingers in
  width must manually splint her abdomen during abdominal exercises.
   Encourage Soldiers to not move or change direction quickly and to exercise at a
  slow pace for the first 10 weeks after delivery.
   Watch for Soldiers with pelvic pain, low back or sciatic nerve pain, difficulty
  walking, limping, incontinence during exercise, or with deep abdominal pain.
  They may need to further modify exercise performance and check with their
  providers for exercise restrictions.
   Encourage frequent hydration (preferably with water). Dehydration remains a
  concern after pregnancy, especially for breastfeeding mothers.
   Give postpartum Soldiers the chance to practice ACFT events and measure their
  body composition as part of their needs analysis and program development.
   Progress postpartum Soldiers to unit conditioning program and use
  reconditioning programs to do so.
   Watch for symptoms of depression that may occur between 3 and 4 months
  postpartum. Encourage Soldiers who exhibit symptoms to seek professional
  assistance, and alert the Soldier’s chain of command about a potential concern.
  PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM PHYSICAL TRAINING
  EXERCISE SESSIONS
  12-43. It is safe for Soldiers to continue or start most types of exercise during a normal, uncomplicated
  pregnancy. Soldiers who were very active before pregnancy or are experienced runners, for example, may be
  cleared by medical providers to keep doing the same workouts well into their pregnancies. Physical activity
  does not increase risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or premature delivery. The benefits of exercise during
  pregnancy include the following:
  * Decreased risk of pregnancy-related medical complications.
  * Reduced back pain.
  * Healthy weight gain during pregnancy and healthy weight loss afterwards.
  * Improved maintenance of overall physical readiness and health.
  12-44. The changes in the body during and after pregnancy drives the frequency, intensity, duration, and
  types of drills and exercises performed. See table 12-8. Each physical training session should integrate
  multiple exercise components. During pregnancy, Soldiers deliberately limit intensity. They limit their
  physical fitness components to muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and aerobic endurance.
  Exercises promote the fullest safe range of motion, balance, coordination, and healthy body composition.