When a British athlete becomes pregnant, they are likely to be added to a pretty special WhatsApp group.
With plenty of women being the first in their sport to become mothers, this group is one of the ways the UK Sport Institute (UKSI) is helping to support women choosing to have children during their sporting careers.
Dr Kate Hutchings, the clinical lead for UKSI’s Female Athlete Health and Performance service, featured in the fifth Sporty AF (And Female) episode where four Team GB athletes discussed their views on motherhood.
During the episode, canoeist Kimberley Woods revealed that she had previously thought having a child was not possible in her sport because no one in the UK had done it. Her eyes had been opened by the words of Katy Nicholls and Nekoda Smythe-Davis, while Dr Hutchings revealed how the WhatsApp group helps mothers breaking new ground in their sport.
“I'm really pleased that Kimberley spoke up about that because I think it's a really, really important point,” Dr Hutchings said.
“And actually, over the last couple of years, having heard that from other athletes what we did was set up a support network for athletes and we basically put them in a whole WhatsApp group.
“It was almost like a UK Sport Institute NCT ante-natal class in that they could connect with each other.
“And then when athletes had had their babies, and then you had another new athlete who was pregnant joining the group, they then could support and give advice and just some practical tips to those athletes.
“What we were hearing is that athletes obviously have a very full training scheme, and they don't always get to do the normal things that pregnant women do like go to the NCT classes.
“And indeed, some athletes have said to me ‘I don't really feel like I fit in very well because when I say how much I train everybody looks a little bit surprised’.
“So, I think role models within sport is absolutely essential and I hope from the work that we've done that that's really improved that situation.”
Dr Hutchings has been at the UKSI since 2012 and has worked as part of Team GB at several Olympic Games.
She has used her expertise in female athlete health and performance to advise women on how to combine pregnancy and motherhood with being an athlete.
One way she supports athletes is around when and how to reduce their training as their pregnancy develops.
She added: “It is very individual, for not only that athlete but for that sport, and some of the athletes on Sporty AF talk through that.
“Nekoda, the judoka, stopped her full-contact training straight away because she's in a contact sport. Other athletes can continue a little bit longer, and it's always a two-way conversation.
“But it's very much making sure the health and wellbeing of them and their baby is paramount and making sure that they feel comfortable doing whatever type of training they want to do.”
The support for athletes continues once they have given birth as they look to make their return to training and competing.
Dr Hutchings spoke of the importance of having maternity policies in place for athletes to feel secure through the return-to-training process, which is again tailored to the individual.
“The athlete will go off on maternity leave whenever they feel ready,” she explained. “And they come back to the training environment when they feel ready too.
“Their obstetric care is all through NHS providers, and like any other woman, they'll have a six-week post-natal check to make sure that they have recovered from the delivery and then we tend to check in with them around that time.
“It's a very informal check-in to see how they are and if they've got any thoughts about when they would like to come back.
“We always very much feel that the ball is in their court, there is no pressure to come back at any particular time and it really differs.
“We tend to do a very bespoke training programme up until about 12 weeks, we use lots of different protocols, but one of them is called the 6 Rs and it's very much about strength and stability and particularly the pelvic floor.”
The number of mothers returning to professional sport has increased over recent years and with that, more babies and children are joining their mothers on tours and at major sporting events.
Many teammates have spoken about the positive influence having babies around the squad has had on the team environment.
Dr Hutchings added: “As part of a pregnant athlete's journey we will talk and have discussions and meetings with the support team and coaching team.
“I think it is a big change, but it's always been a positive one from the feedback I've got in that sports really enjoyed having babies sometimes accompany the team, and all the sports I've worked with have done an amazing job of it.
“It is fantastic that more athletes are having children and getting back and really celebrating being a mum and being an elite athlete and setting the way for the next generation.”
Sportsbeat 2023