Fitness-conscious mothers can now safely put aside doubts and swing to Jane Fonda's aerobics. According to a study conducted over 12 weeks by a team of American researchers, lactating mothers run no health risk from exercises while breast feeding (The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 330, No 7).

The study found that regular exercise four to five times a week, starting six weeks after the child's birth, has no adverse effect on the volume or composition of breast milk, body weight, fat loss or the infant's weight gain. On the other hand, it improves cardiovascular fitness significantly.