MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII --
Fitness test requirements for female Marines
post-pregnancy now match other existing Marine Corps physical requirements in
2015.
After giving birth, female Marines are now able to
complete the Combat Fitness Test and the Physical Fitness Test six months after
returning to full duty, according to Marine Administrative Message 005/15. The
message, issued Jan. 6, 2015 matches the time frame with other policies on
female Marines meeting physical standards after giving birth and returning to
full duty.
Among those directly impacted are Sgt. Brandi Cain, an
embark chief at Marine Aircraft Group 24. Cain is in her third pregnancy and
remembered how having emotional support was a key factor in reaching fitness
standards after having her first child.
“My shop encouraged me a lot,” she said. “They supported
me, but didn’t push or force me. I always had someone to work out with. Having
a running buddy and your shop behind you is really helpful for your support
system.”
Cain said taking freely available pregnancy classes at
her previous duty station helped her understand the physical and mental
stresses that occur at each stage of pregnancy and after birth.
Parents, civilian or those serving in the military, can
seek out Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s free programs for assistance, including the
New Parent Support Program. The program offers a Baby Boot Camp class about
handling overall health during pregnancy and a semi-monthly meeting with other
parents in the Breastfeeding Support Group.
“Mothers can end up becoming more isolated during their
pregnancies and after giving birth,” said Diane Whitcomb, NPSP manager at MCB
Hawaii. “This can have a negative effect emotionally and physically. That’s why
we invite expecting moms and dads to meet other parents during our events and
in our programs, like the Breastfeeding Support Group. We’re helping them to
establish a solid support network before they need it.”
Expecting Marines may gain an average of 44 pounds,
according to an August 2012 study by the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The study followed active-duty Marines and their
active-duty counterparts from another branch of armed service, tracking their
weight up to six months after pregnancy. A total of 96 percent of Marines in
the study met fitness requirements at their first pre-natal doctor visit and
were more likely than their counterparts to be within standards three to six
months after pregnancy.
Cain said she’s tried various strategies to ensure she
was healthy and could meet fitness requirements. When she found herself
unexpectedly losing weight in her second pregnancy, she consulted a
nutritionist who helped her with meal planning. Tripler Army Medical Center
offers counseling to service members through their nutrition clinic. Cain said
mentally committing to finding time to be healthy works best for her.
“After my first pregnancy I was very determined to get
back to the Marine Corps and to my job so I could deploy,” Cain said. “As soon
as I came back after six weeks, I was running and performing a first class
PFT.”
Additional research has highlighted how factors other
than calorie intake and exercise can impact fitness after pregnancy in active
duty service members. Navy servicewomen with higher pre-pregnancy body mass
indexes and caesarian deliveries were less likely to meet weight standards six
months after giving birth, as reported in an April 2013 study by the
Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.
Cain is continuing but adjusting her physical training as
her current pregnancy progresses. She said from her experience, six months is a
good time period for recovery.
“I was performing at the physical requirements before my
pregnancy,” she said. “If some women have complications while they are
pregnant, they might be hesitant to do something, but this (policy update)
gives them more time.”
For more information about the New Parent Support
Program, call 257-8803 or 257-8800. The program has additional information
online: mccshawaii.com/npsp/.