“But motherhood gives you a new perspective,” she continues to reassure me. “Riding was no longer the be-all and end-all, and it gave me a mental edge. I started this year with a different mindset and winning these medals was more of an achievement than the previous Paralympics, knowing how difficult it was to get there.

“It should be like coming back from an injury”

Green recommended I consult Kat Suchet, a women’s physical therapist and encyclopedia of pregnancy knowledge. Suchet is an elite CrossFit athlete and mother of two. Her own pregnancy journey, combined with a lack of resources, inspired her to create Hatch Athletic. Specializing in rehabilitation and physiotherapy during pregnancy and postpartum, with online courses as well as in-person sessions for women like me: who want to experience pregnancy and motherhood without giving up sport completely. Its customers range from avid gym goers and CrossFit athletes to runners, horse riders, skiers and rugby players.

“Women are becoming more active, so we need to improve our level of support in terms of supporting women during and after pregnancy,” she says. “There is not enough information or resources available and returning to sport after having a baby should be treated like rehabbing an injury. »

Having previously lived in Australia, Suchet sees a clear difference in the approach to pregnancy for sportswomen. “Because of their health system, this means that anyone can access one of the many private women’s physiotherapists and it is socially acceptable to be seen during pregnancy and after childbirth. This is not the case here. Unless you can afford private care, you must have a problem to be referred by the NHS. Then there are waiting times and pregnancy doesn’t wait. We have a limited number of physiotherapists specializing in women’s health, but I think anyone serious about returning to sport (after giving birth) should see one.

We discussed the risks and benefits of different birth methods, the importance of pelvic floor health and postpartum rehabilitation, and how hormonal surges and depletions resulting from breastfeeding can help or hinder. I ask myself: “How can pregnancy be a natural event in life? » because we are talking about the risk of postpartum prolapse (when the pelvic floor muscles weaken and can no longer support the pelvic organs), which can result from resuming training too quickly.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, stop”

Suchet recommends seeing someone after 20 weeks of pregnancy to have your pelvic floor and abdominal area assessed, then developing a pregnancy plan that includes pelvic floor exercises. She re-evaluates clients about six weeks after delivery to establish the postpartum plan, but suggests doing “as little as possible during the first three weeks after birth.” She emphasizes that pregnancy is not a collective experience and that women experience different journeys. Some come out on top, like CrossFit legend and six-time “fittest woman alive” Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, who was back winning six months after giving birth. Others are really struggling. Regardless of their experience, Suchet encourages women to listen to their bodies during pregnancy and after childbirth: “If it makes you uncomfortable, stop. »

It seems like I need to bury my ego and let go of my “no pain, no gain” attitude towards sports. Even though I continue to improve every day, if something requires me to overcome mental and physical barriers, I will relegate myself to the sidelines for the moment. Instead, I will take the time to reflect on how lucky I am and embrace more “goo goo ga ga” and less “go, go, go.” Plus, I have at least four years to train for the parent race.