Mindful Mamas Yoga

     They say common symptoms of pregnancy are lack of energy, motivation, and forgetfulness, loss of short-term memory, concentration, headaches and backaches. - They were not kidding. This is not very comforting for me being that I am a student and am reliant upon all those things to be successful. Some think that it is still cute that I have sent three of the same emails because I forget that I sent one in the first place, or that I walk into my room to get something only to walk back out with nothing and have to go back once someone reminds me what I was looking for. I am sure my lack of sleep is a huge contributing factor. So what is one way to fix that? Exercise!

     After consultation with a few friends I was informed about mindful mamas yoga. I am hoping that adding this to my daily/weekly routines will help alleviate some of these pregnancy ills. Tonight is my first class..... Exciting! I will keep you all posted about the benefits that have resulted. Until then enjoy this YouTube video clip about Mindful Mamas and some of the positive testimonials.

TEE for Two

     The critical period is finally over.... I can now expose myself and show the excitement I am hiding inside.  I am pregnant :) 3 months now and while my sport may still be in the off season I still consider myself to be an athlete.  I will say though a more cautious athlete now.  I am not sure how the basketball athletes did it, but once the bump started growing it felt like my abs were being ripped apart. There was no accompanying pain, it's just the only way I can describe the feeling.  I have only a little baby bump now, but this little thing inside has already caused tremendous changes.  I am still excited to go forward.

     I am taking our adventure to the next level, tee for two.  We will be out as often as possible during the season, playing on the links.  I am sure modifications will be necessary, but I want to see how being pregnant affects a golf athlete.  I already have an idea about how things are going to change with my recent playing experience.

     We had a golf fundraiser not too long ago in which I was unsure about, so I did not register a team.  I did, however, get the chance to still swing the club for a few hits.  Playing with the irons was fine, actually quite normal, but the driver is what made me more cautious.  There was no real warm up which may have been a contributing factor, along with the fact that I just went up and tried to kill the ball.  After my first swing it felt like I ripped an internal lining away from my skin.  It was definitely weird and uncomfortable, but not as painful as it sounds.  The ball hit the side wall and I was slightly embarrassed, but I think it was more the feelings inside that threw me off.  Maybe I was trying too hard.  I attempted it again, hit my regular slice but still felt awkward.  Needless to say that was the last of my driver experience until after I consult with my doctor.  I have read other pregnant golfers stories, which are all positive, so I am sure once I get used to the situation and become more comfortable things will change.

     My doctor and I have already begun adjusting my workout routines.  Now that we are heading into the second trimester, I have a feeling that some of the excluded activities can now be added back.

     I am still anxious to go out with my friends and play some golf with a huge baby bump.  I find the image to be funny but the experience to be memorable.

     My blogging is now going to be more personal as I follow my adventure through this pregnancy and my desire to play golf and stay active.

The Male's Perspective - Does it really matter?

     I was curious about what the male's perspective was on athlete pregnancies.  It is more out of interest, because I don't think their opinions really matter.  I mean consider the differences - they are not the ones who have to watch their bodies change, they do not have to try extra hard to get their bodies back into shape nor do they have to prove their athletic abilities once more, they do not have to risk losing their college/university aspirations or risk their career - so why does their opinion really matter.  But now just imagine if males did get pregnant - like on the right, David Beckham.  Maybe we should care about their opinions.  So I talked with a few male athletes to get their perspective on the whole situation.  I was even ready put him in the scenarios of "what if" situations - like what if your girlfriend got pregnant in high school… in college… or during your professional career.  I was prepared to questions about equity and equality.  So if you would like to hear these males responses please listen to the attached audio file to get the male's perspective on female athlete pregnancy.

UPDATE: The male athletes chickened out - Sorry to all those readers who were interested in listening to this podcast - you weren't the only ones. I guess I was right when I said the first time, does the male's opinion really matter!

Are Pregnant Athletes Selfish or Are Policies of Equality Lacking?

    

     There has been a debate that pregnant athletes are being selfish for hiding or keeping secret their pregnancies while playing their sports well into the third trimester.  While some of their defining reasons for hiding it may be different, I think the end reasoning is the same – they just want to play as long as their rights allow them to. This wasn’t always the case, however, and I think this is the reason why some women are still cautious about when and to whom they reveal their pregnancies. Let’s look at two different groups of affected athletes: professional athletes and college/high school athletes.

     Concerns and fears still do not disappear for professional athletes. For WNBA players, basketball is their career.  A league veteran, Allison Feaster was still nervous when she got pregnant: "I was really concerned about just announcing my pregnancy and how it would affect my ability to stay in my job. I'd say put the pressure on the lawmakers to do their part so that we are protected." Other stars like DeMya Walker and Marie Ferdinand are also pregnant realities of the WNBA and other women's professional leagues. Seeing athletes play out their postpartum weight loss on national TV offers an up-close view of what it takes to get back into game shape. Houston Comets star Sheryl Swoopes is proof it can be done. She has been named MVP a record three times since having her son Jordan 10 years ago. The athletes of the WNBA are the best of the best, and their league has a supportive pregnancy policy. Not every athlete is so lucky.

     The choices collegiate athletes confront have been complicated by both the lack of university policies addressing the issue and by universities’ discriminatory practices, such as the withdrawal of athletic scholarships from athletes who become pregnant. In 2003, a Sacred Heart University basketball player alleged that she was asked to leave the team after her pregnancy became known. According to the player, the coach told her that the pregnancy would be a “distraction” to the team. After the university denied the player’s request for “medical redshirt” status, typically given to injured athletes to enable them to retain their athletic scholarships, she met with the university’s athletic director and its Title IX compliance officer. These officials promised to reinstate her scholarship and allow her to resume participation on the team after having she gave birth. Nonetheless, the coach continued to shun her when she returned from maternity leave and excluded her from participating in team activities. The player subsequently left the university and filed a Title IX suit alleging pregnancy discrimination. The case eventually settled out of court with no reported decision and on undisclosed terms. These stories and more can be found in the article by Deborah Brake, The Invisible Pregnant Athlete and the Promise of Title IX, retrieved from http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlg/vol312/323-366.pdf



USC's Brynn Cameron

    
     Decisions also affect high school athletes just as hard, if not harder. Making the decision to keep the child can affect their future more than it should. Take the example of Darnellia Russell, a high school student from Seattle. Darnellia had hoped, through an athletic scholarship, to fulfill her dream of becoming the first in her family to go to college. Her high school coach saw her true potential when she was just a junior. She had letters of interest from a number of schools before she got pregnant. After the baby the interest pretty much disappeared, and with it, Darnellia's dreams of a college education and maybe even the WNBA. Darnellia would love the opportunity to show a school that she has come back from her pregnancy. She is waiting for the phone to ring with a college coach giving her that chance.

     With many more stories like these, students may feel compelled to make decisions that are beyond their true desires because they are not given a fair chance.  So are pregnant athletes selfish? I think not. It seems all they want is to continue to live healthy lifestyles and to stay in their profession as long as other pregnant business women do. If they are taking care and control of the best interest of the baby than I say all the more power to them. We are all strong and resilient and should be given the opportunities to prove ourselves again, no matter what level of participation.