Pregnancy and Return to Sport

Exercise in pregnancy is safe and beneficial for most women, and current UK guidance encourages active women to keep going rather than to stop.

In sport and exercise medicine (SEM) the task is often keeping a very active woman training safely, then rebuilding high-load capacity after birth.

• •Pregnancy and delivery alter the pelvic floor, the abdominal wall and load tolerance, and pelvic floor symptoms under impact commonly delay a return to running
• •Breastfeeding raises energy demand, so the postpartum athlete is exposed to low energy availability and iron deficiency
• •Return to sport follows an individualised, symptom-guided plan rather than a date in the diary