Support for elite athletes during pregnancy
Because elite athletes train and compete throughout their reproductive years, sport policies should reflect the needs of pregnant athletes. Recent research identified five areas where better support can be provided to pregnant athletes: pregnancy planning and fertility, pregnancy disclosure and discrimination, training pregnant athletic bodies, safety concerns, and supportive networks and equitable funding.
Supporting the moms in your life
Family, friends, and teammates all play an important role in encouraging moms’ physical activity and sport participation. There are many ways to support moms to help them stay active. These include helping with childcare and household work, providing moms with emotional support, and most importantly, cheering them on every step of the way!
Active moms
Being a new mom is often stressful. Encouragingly, research shows that new and expecting moms who stay active are less likely to experience anxiety. Meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is a great way for moms to protect and promote their mental health.
Movement tips for moms
Finding the time to fit in a home workout or exercise class can be challenging for moms. But small bouts of physical activity throughout the day, or “exercise snacks,” can be just as effective to achieve the health benefits of physical activity. Research shows that when moms reframe physical activity as “moving your body” instead…
Supporting new moms
“You have to get beyond the mindset of having to do it all yourself.” That’s the advice that Mandy Bujold, 2-time Olympian and mom to 3-year-old Kate, has for new moms who want to be active. “There are people out there – family members, neighbours, friends – who would love to help, even for an…
The importance of the pelvic floor in returning to physical activity after childbirth
After childbirth, mothers have numerous concerns about their postpartum body and its capacity for returning to physical activity. One of the worries is whether physical activity may negatively affect the pelvic floor after pregnancy and delivery. The pelvic floor is a crucial group of muscles that helps maintain bladder and bowel control, support internal organs,…
Role model moms
“My daughter once told me, ‘Mum, you do everything for us. You should do something for yourself,” recalls 4-time Paralympian Ina Forrest, reflecting back on the early days of her wheelchair curling career. Over the years, Forrest has come to appreciate how her involvement in sport has modeled important values for her children, including how…
Mom’s got game
“Being younger in an all-women’s league has shown me that you can play hockey and be a mom. It wasn’t ever in my mind that I couldn’t do both. Seeing others do it helped relieve some of the pressures of motherhood.” Learn more about women’s’ experiences returning to sport after childbirth and tips for creating…
Getting over ‘mom guilt’
Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion mountain biker Catharine Pendrel gave birth to her first child, Dara, 6 months before she represented Canada in Tokyo for her fourth Olympic Games. In the lead up to the Games, Pendrel discovered that she’s actually a better parent when she makes time for physical activity. “It felt…
The active mom
Kids don’t have to be the only ones getting active during their organized sport activities. Training sessions provide an ideal time for moms to get active too! Creating opportunities for parents to engage in individual or group exercise during their children’s sport practices is one way sport programs can enhance sport moms’ physical and mental…