Between managing your toddler’s meltdowns and trying to make it through the day, you may be able to catch the Olympic Games, taking place in Paris right now. Watching these athletes perform on the world’s stage is inspiring—and hey, so is everything you do day-in and day-out as a mom.
From the physical changes pregnant women endure preparing to bring a new life into the world to the mental rollercoaster of postpartum—motherhood is a lifelong endurance event. It requires immense strength, commitment and perseverance—just like training and competing for the Olympics.
The 10,500 athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics have prepared for this moment for years and, in some cases, their entire lives.
Women are put through the same physical, emotional and mental obstacles athletes face, without any formal training or prep—and no, they don’t get a medal—or even an applause, for it.
Here, we celebrate you, your body and your ability to endure and thrive through every curve ball, challenge, high jump, and routine motherhood throws your way.
The Physical Demands:
Pregnancy & Birth:
As the body adapts to support a growing baby, women undergo a multitude of physical changes. These include hormonal shifts, weight gain, breast changes, cramps, fatigue, gas, stretch marks, acne, back pain, you name it. Because they’re superheroes in their own right, women not only have to just endure these symptoms but continue on with their everyday lives working and if it’s their second pregnancy, also caring for older kids. (If that’s not Gold Medal worthy, we’re not sure what is!)
The physical demands of carrying a baby to childbirth are akin to the training of elite marathon runners. In fact, according to Duke University researchers, pregnant women should be considered in the same class as athletes who have completed a triathlon in terms of endurance. The energy demands needed for top athletes competing in the 3,000-mile Tour de France can be compared to the energy expenditure of pregnancy.
After pregnancy, the pinnacle of physical exertion comes with labor and delivery. A study from the University of Michigan found the energy used in labor and delivery is also comparable to running a marathon. The intense physical effort needed for childbirth demands significant stamina, endurance and strength.
The uterine contractions necessary to help the cervix dilate can be equated to muscle contractions derived from intense physical activity. The overall physical effort needed for labor makes childbirth an extremely taxing experience for a woman’s body. The average labor time for a first birth lasts 12 to 24 hours, where women go through three stages of labor: early labor, active labor and afterbirth.
Women who deliver through C-sections face significant recovery time and an increased risk for complications related to the delivery. (And in emergency situations or when a labor isn’t progressing, some women labor for hours before being rushed into surgery.) Many researchers suggest that a full recovery from C-sections can take four to six weeks and 60 percent of women experience pain around the incision for up to 24 weeks after.
Postpartum:
While the physical demands of pregnancy are incredible—postpartum is no easier feat, involving even more challenges. Olympians must have mental strength to endure training and to push through barriers. Postpartum also requires women to push through hormones, physical recovery and increased mental health symptoms. (And they do all of this while being in charge of a brand-new baby.)
For many women, it can take up to a year or longer to fully recover. The body needs time to heal from pregnancy and childbirth, including tissue healing and the shifting of organs back into place. During this time, women continue to bleed for four to six weeks (or even longer)—and the placenta leaves a dinner plate sized wound inside their uterus. On top of that, some women also choose to adjust to a new physical demand—breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is strenuous, requiring a considerable amount of energy to produce and feed an infant. In fact, the energy a mother uses to breastfeed their baby each day is the same amount of energy used to walk seven miles.
Motherhood:
After pregnancy, birth and postpartum motherhood becomes its own beast. There’s no denying how becoming a mom forever changes your heart and soul—and your health. Sadly, breast cancers that emerge within five years of childbirth have a higher likelihood to spread and even become deadly. The stress of pregnancy and giving birth can cause a woman’s biological age to increase by up to two years. Chasing after kids, lifting them, kissing boo-boo’s and generally keeping up with energetic children who want their mother’s company can cause long-term strain on her joints and bones.
Also, athletes often have recovery days from their training and eventually, they retire—but motherhood is forever. These along with several other transformative effects of becoming a mother, are all reasons why being a mom is a sport in itself.
Emotional and Mental Demands:
Pregnancy
Competing on the world’s stage is impressive—and definitely intimidating. Many athletes have been open about their mental health struggles from extreme training to be the best. Though moms aren’t vying for the gold so-to-speak, they are under an immense amount of pressure from society, their community, other moms—and themselves. And for most women, it begins in pregnancy.
While there are plenty of memes about the irrational cravings and emotional outburst of pregnant women—hormones are largely to blame. After all, when you’re growing a human from scratch, your hormones are raging, leading to mood swings, anxiety and depression. Plus, the physical discomfort of pregnancy, the exhaustion, and the anticipation of the baby’s arrival can contribute to increased emotional sensitivity.
Pregnancy also brings dramatic changes to the brain. A study showed a reduction of gray matter in the brain, which is responsible for the processing of perception, sensation, learning, speech, voluntary movement and cognition takes place. However, the researchers found that women who have this loss also had greater attachment feelings to their children. Pregnancy and labor doesn’t just change your body—it literally changes the way you think.
Postpartum:
If there’s any part of motherhood that is the most demanding of emotional and mental stamina—it’s postpartum. Your whole life, your identity, your routine and your body are going through an incredible transformation. And you’re experiencing the second-most intense hormone depletion, with only menopause presenting a more significant decrease.
Mentally, early motherhood is a constant display of resilience. The never-ending demands of caring for a new baby, coupled with the intense lack of sleep mothers get, are more complicated than words can describe. According to research, new parents lose an average of six months’ sleep during the first 24 months of their child’s life, with about 10 percent of parents only getting two-and-a-half hours continuous sleep nightly. The study also found 60 percent of parents with babies aged less than 24 months get no more than three-and-a-quarter hours sleep.
This sleep deprivation is incredibly challenging, and it can affect your mood or even be a tipping point for postpartum depression or anxiety. The mental resilience required for motherhood is immense.
Also, during postpartum, one in seven women, or 15 percent, experience postpartum depression. For half of these women, it’s their first time experiencing anything depression related. For women with PPD, it can be challenging to bond with their baby or find the energy to provide the 24/7 care a newborn needs and symptoms endure for many months or even years. Areas of the brain like the hypothalamus, which controls body temperature, heart rate and hunger, and the amygdala, which is a processing center for your emotions, increase from right after childbirth to 12 to 16 weeks postpartum.
This, coupled with the prevalence of postpartum anxiety and postpartum rage can create a cocktail of emotions that are incredibly challenging to manage and cope. And again, while athletes have time to recover and have off-season times, mothers are never off-duty—from the moment they see a positive pregnancy test to every day they share on earth with their children.
Motherhood:
Athletes train from a young age to compete in the Olympics, with their athletic peak being at 27 years. While there’s no doubt of how much talent and dedication is required for these athletes, they will eventually stop training and competing professionally. Motherhood, however, is a full-time, forever sport.
Many mothers balance work, home responsibilities and caring for their kids. This act isn’t so different from the analogy of a gymnast walking on the high beam—but the stakes may even be higher if a mom falls. Managing family, work and children’s needs requires continuous mental resilience and strength. It’s a never-ending marathon.
Physically, research has shown that more than a third of women experience health problems lasting long after childbirth. The combined impact of ongoing sleep deprivation, stress and balancing responsibilities don’t end after postpartum. The physical demands continue as children grow up—mothers carry their children, lift heavy toys and car seats and breastfeed, all requiring continuous physical strength. It’s a constant workout that does not stop. And as much as you try, science says mothers constantly worry about their kids, exerting mental energy every single day.
What We Can Take From the Olympics As Moms
Olympic athletes, whether in team or individual events, always emphasize the importance of their support systems. Their family, friends, trainers, coaches and teammates all play an important role in their success. It’s no different for motherhood.
When your partner is actively involved in your pregnancy and after childbirth, it can improve the child’s well being, as well as make your recovery period easier. Having a village of your family and friends improves your happiness and stress levels. Mothers who lack a strong support system after childbirth have higher levels of stress, which can cause negative feelings towards parenting. While, mothers who have support have lower levels of stress and are more optimistic about parenting.
World-class athletes prioritize their health, sleep and nutrition—and you should too. Ensuring you get enough sleep to start will significantly decrease your risk for postpartum depression. It’s hard when you want your baby to be the main focus, but caring for yourself is equally important. Athletes can’t compete if they don’t give their body time to heal—and you can’t show up as a mom without giving yourself the self-care you earn and deserve.
The idea that motherhood is an endurance sport is backed by mother’s experiences everywhere. Pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood is a lifelong journey that deserves recognition. The physical, emotional and mental demands required from elite athletes are nearly the same as those from mothers.
Seeing motherhood as an Olympic sport brings to light all the work mothers do. So, as you watch the Olympics this year, remember mothers are right up there with them. And though it may not be official—we’re giving you the Gold Medal every damn day.
Author
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Esha Minhas is a third-year student at Northeastern University studying Journalism and Political Science. She's currently the editorial and social intern for Mila & Jo Media. Esha is also the Deputy Sports Editor for The Huntington News and covers Northeastern men's hockey. When she's not busy with work or school, you can find her at the gym, baking for her friends and family and watching anything sports related.
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