Maternity and Elite Sport: What Every Athlete, Coach, and Club Needs to Know

For a long time, pregnancy and elite sport were seen as separate worlds—you’re either an athlete or a mom, but not both. Today, that’s changing. More women athletes are choosing both motherhood and high-performance careers, but the pathway is still unclear, unsupported, and filled with challenges.

This is a real conversation we need to have in sports—because the number of women navigating maternity and elite sport is only growing, and the systems around them are not fully ready yet.

Here’s what athletes, coaches, and sports organizations need to know to better support women as both elite performers and future moms.

1. Pregnancy Is Not the End of an Athlete’s Career—But It’s Often Treated Like It Is

Many elite women fear disclosing pregnancy because:

• They worry about losing contracts or sponsorships.

• They fear being seen as “weak” or “done” as an athlete.

• There are no clear pathways or protocols to guide athletes through maternity and return to play.

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👉 Athletes should not have to choose between motherhood and career.

⚠️ But without support, many feel forced to.

2. What Happens to the Body During and After Pregnancy (And Why It Matters for Sport)

Pregnancy is not just about gaining weight or having a bump — it’s a massive transformation of the body:

• Hormonal changes affect joints, ligaments, balance, coordination, and energy.

• The core and pelvic floor are stretched and weakened.

• Sleep, mood, and recovery are affected during and after pregnancy.

• Postpartum recovery is individual — there’s no single timeline, and every woman’s body heals differently.

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⚠️ Returning too quickly to high-intensity training or competition increases risk for injury (e.g., ACL, pelvic issues, prolapse).

📢 Key point: Pregnancy and postpartum are athletic events. They require serious recovery, rehab, and performance planning.

3. The Gap: What’s Missing in the Current Elite Sports System?

🔻 Lack of policies on maternity leave and return to play. 

🔻 No consistent medical support for pregnant/postpartum athletes (pelvic floor physios, hormone specialists, mental health support). 

🔻 Lack of education for coaches and staff on how to adjust training. 

🔻 Fear culture—athletes afraid to speak up about pregnancy or postpartum struggles.

💡 Solution? Clubs and federations need clear maternity policies, athlete-centered return-to-sport frameworks, and educated staff.

4. The Psychological Side: Identity, Confidence, and Pressure to Return

Pregnancy and early motherhood can shake an athlete’s identity — questions like:

• “Who am I if I’m not competing right now?”

• “Will I ever be as good as I was before?”

• “Will I lose my place on the team?”

• “Am I being a good mom if I want to come back to sport?”

  
  

⚠️ The pressure to rush back too soon (from self, sponsors, or clubs) can lead to:

• Injury.

• Burnout.

• Mental health struggles (postpartum depression/anxiety).

  
  

💡 Athletes need mental health support and space to redefine their identity as athlete-mothers.

5. What Needs to Change — Action Points for Clubs, Staff, and Organizations

✅ 1. Maternity Policies in Contracts

• Guaranteed maternity leave and pay.

• Clear return-to-play support.

• No loss of sponsorship or selection due to pregnancy.

✅ 2. Access to Specialist Medical Teams

• Pelvic health physiotherapists to guide return to training.

• Sports obstetricians/gynecologists who understand elite demands.

• Mental health professionals trained in perinatal care.

✅ 3. Education for Coaches and Performance Staff

• Understanding how to adjust training during and after pregnancy.

• Recognizing red flags for injury or mental health issues.

• Supporting athlete as a whole person, not just a performer.

✅ 4. Flexible Return-to-Play Plans

• Individualized timelines.

• Step-by-step progression of load, intensity, and competition.

• Psychological support for confidence rebuilding.

6. Real Role Models, Real Stories

💥 Athletes who’ve done it (and fought for it):

• Serena Williams – returned to elite tennis post-pregnancy.

• Allyson Felix – spoke out about maternity protections in sponsorship after being pushed out by Nike.

• Alex Morgan – returned to elite football post-birth and continued to perform.

  
  

👉 Their message: It’s possible—but it takes the right support, policies, and understanding.

7. Final Takeaway: Sport Needs to Catch Up with the Realities of Women's Lives

🏆 Pregnancy and motherhood are not the end of an athlete's career. 

🏆 With the right support, athletes can return stronger—physically and mentally. 

🏆 Sports culture must shift to see women as whole people—athletes, mothers, leaders.

📣 If sport is serious about women, it has to be serious about maternity.