By Jenny Rough

Sitting in a café, I was recounting to a friend a conversation I’d recently had with my doctor. “He wants to put me on fertility pills,” I said.

When it comes to the numerous discomforts that often accompany pregnancy, acupuncture is a supreme multitasker. From conception to every day life with baby, the ancient Chinese system of healing can treat many of the most common aches and pains.

The news is rife with reports of high mercury levels in fish and dire warnings for women planning to breed. Lost amid these dueling studies and conflicting health requirements is a truly important question: What about sushi? Can you be healthy and still allow yourself the world's most delectable upscale treat?

Conflicting Reports:

While a certain amount of naturally-occurring mercury always showed up in fish, the 50% of American power that comes from the combustion of fossil fuels (that's coal, to you and me) has led to a sharp increase in mercury which travels from air to soil to water and finally into the biggest, bottom-feeding fish. n 2004, the FDA and EPA joined forces to recommend that women of childbearing age and young children should steer clear of Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish, since they have the highest levels of mercury.

While pregnancy can be uncomfortable at times, your impending motherhood does not give you a nine-month excuse to be a couch potato. In fact, maintaining—or starting—a regular fitness regimen while you are pregnant can have numerous benefits.

You’re pregnant! Now what are you going to eat? Swordfish is out, salmon’s in, cheddar’s OK, Brie is no good. Navigating the lengthy list of dietary dos and don’ts can take nine months. Now that baby’s on the way your life will never be the same, but it’s important to remember that some things haven’t changed at all. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables was essential to maintaining overall health and vitality pre-pregnancy and it’s equally essential to your growing baby’s development.

—In the introduction to the Healthy Pregnancy and Successful Childbirth CD, Belleruth Naparstek suggests, “Try not to have a fixed idea of how you think the labor and delivery should go. The more flexible you can be, the better off you are.”