Croissants and Commentary #4: Moms in the Olympics — How to Return to Elite Sport Postpartum?

Women's Performance

It seems shocking that the 2024 Olympics marks the first time there will be a nursery in the Olympic Village, for mothers competing at the Games. While there has been a huge increase in recent years in the number of elite athletes returning to sport postpartum — and in the resources available to them (thanks to pro moms like Allyson Felix, Alysia Montaño, and Chelsea Sodaro) — it begs the question, "How are we JUST getting here?!"

Figuring out how to train (or not) during pregnancy — how often, at what intensity — and what the timeline looks like for moms wanting to return to sport postpartum can be challenging. The research on pregnant and postpartum female athletes has been lacking, and many women face outdated beliefs from doctors and society. That is especially true for moms at the elite Olympic level.

Kelly and Sara are joined by Dr. Shefali Christopher PT, DPT, PhD, LAT, ATC to discuss the latest research on training during pregnancy and postpartum, including:

• How to know you're ready to return to training postpartum?
• What return-to-sport postpartum guidelines exist for athletes?
• What recommendations are there for pregnant athletes?
• Recommended exercises, including lower extremity, core, and pelvic floor work

Sara also shares her personal experiences of being pregnant as a professional triathlete, along with coming back after giving birth.

Not surprisingly, there isn't a "one size fits all" approach — despite what social media might say! — which is why it's important to have a network of support. Factors like childcare, sleep, nutrition, energy deficiencies, and stress all impact a mom's risk for injuries and timeline as they return to training.

What else is needed in the coming years to help more female athletes during this stage of their careers?

Here is some of the key research on postpartum reutrn-to-sport and training during pregnancy:

• Medical consensus on how to know when you're ready to return to running postpartum: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/58/6/299
• Consensus on designing a return-to-run program: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/58/4/183
• The four-phase approach to postpartum return-to-run: https://www.themotherrunners.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rehabilitation_of_the_Postpartum_Runner__A_4_Phase.3-2.pdf

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