Mothers rate the fun quotient in being pregnant

What’s the most memorable moment of a woman’s pregnancy? It might not be what you’d expect.

A recent survey found that giving birth ranked lowest among first-time mothers, when they were asked for their most memorable experience while pregnant. The No. 1 answer? Feeling the baby kick or move for the first time (37 percent). Twenty-one percent said it was experiencing the sonogram or ultrasound and 5 percent said it was learning the baby’s sex. The results were similar for "experienced" moms (those with more than one child) as well.

The survey, called "All About Mom," was conducted by Babies "R" Us. The baby-product retailer surveys 1,000 new and expectant moms once a year. Other findings include:

It’s a . . .

A whopping 89 percent of experienced moms and 81 percent of first-time mothers knew if they were having a boy or a girl before giving birth.

What’s in a Name?

John and Ethan topped the boy’s list for baby names in 2004, while Elizabeth and Madison were the most popular names for girls.

Make Room for Dad

Ninety-five percent of moms said Dad was or will be in the delivery room. New fathers also help care for older siblings, and about one-third of working women said the baby’s father will provide child care, making dads the third most popular child care option after mothers/mothers-in-law and day care facilities. However, Dad does have some room for improvement. Almost 100 percent of expectant moms believed Dad would help out on diaper duty and only 88 percent of new moms report Dad actually does. Also, 86 percent of expectant moms said Dad will bathe baby, while only 62 percent of new moms said he does.

Baby School

More than two-thirds (67 percent) of the women surveyed said they took or plan to take a pregnancy or baby-related class. Childbirth classes were the most popular, followed by infant CPR, Lamaze, bathing and child-rearing classes.

Working It Out

The majority of moms exercised during pregnancy, with walking (90 percent) by far the most popular form, followed by yoga (23 percent). Another favorite activity was more relaxing in nature. Ninety percent of women surveyed played music for their baby during their pregnancies, with pop music and classical "topping the charts."

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.