Competitive sport and pregnancy

[CAG12]

Hi all

Pre-pregnancy I was a competitive weightlifter (think lifting heavy weights rather than posing on stage with a load of fake tan on). I took it pretty seriously, maintained my body weight to fit into competition weight categories, trained 5ish times a week, was knocking on the door of a national qualification.

Im just after advice on getting back into competitive sport post pregnancy. How long did it take you? Any tips?

Im training through pregnancy, albeit with a really modified programme.

Not competitive as such but I was a fairly serious runner before (and in between) pregnancy. I did a lot of races etc (not that I'd have won or anything!).

Anyway, I've had two babies and two experiences of getting back to it. The first time I was back running at 6 weeks post birth and racing by 12 weeks. I spent much of that year injured and in physio and can admit I tried to do too much too soon.

After my second baby the physio advised me to wait until 16 weeks post birth to really get back to it, so I did. No injuries this time and I came back fitter and faster than I was pre children. I also started running longer distance races. I saw a pelvic floor physio as well did everything by the book. Running is obviously high impact but I imagine weight lifting at your level puts a lot of stress on the pelvic floor too, so I'd really recommend this kind of physio. In my area you could self refer up to six weeks post birth and were seen for as long as you needed.

The moral of my story is don't rush it. Your ligaments are still loose from all the hormones for quite a while after the birth and so you are mega prone to injury. Take it slow and don't push yourself too hard for a good while, but don't worry, you can come back stronger.

I'm pregnant with DC3 and will be following my own advice this time!!