The postpartum period is a time of anatomical, physiological and psychological transition. The recent Olympic Games brought to light the exceptional capacity of women after the birth of a child and is a story of success for women athletes globally.
However, it is important to recognize that this elite level of sport and success postpartum is not a realistic representation of the experience of most mothers in attempting to return to movement after the birth of a child, even those desiring to return to elite competition. In a March 2023 article, distance runner Kara Goucher reflected on the negative impact returning to running too soon after the birth of her son had on her body and emotional well-being.
In a world where we seek lifestyle-based advice from social media and are inundated with unrealistic images of postpartum women and physical activity success, the global conversation around motherhood success at the Olympics may negatively impact those who are “just trying to survive” the early years of parenting.
