There's no need to spend your pregnancy lounging on the couch. Unless you have a high-risk condition and/or your doctor advises against exercise, being active during pregnancy can have many benefits.

One recent study, for example, shows that doing water aerobics during pregnancy can make labor bearable. Half of the women in the study attended three 50-minute water aerobics sessions each week, the other half did not. Researchers followed up with the women after they delivered their babies and found that, while the duration and type of delivery didn't vary, women who didn't participate in water aerobics requested anesthetic more frequently than the women who were active during pregnancy.

So, is water aerobics the magic solution that makes labor more bearable? I don't think there's enough information from this study to suggest that. But water aerobics is a gentle, effective exercise and is a good choice for pregnant women. The American Pregnancy Association has more suggestions for exercise. Before beginning any exercise routine while you're pregnant, it's important to check with your OB/GYN.