On this week’s BJSM podcast, we are joined by Assistant Professor Margie Davenport, to talk about the latest evidence and experience around exercising and competing as an elite athlete whilst pregnant.

We discuss why this is such an important issue as well as some of the myths or misconceptions that exist in this space. Dr Davenport also provides a range of practical tips for team physicians, scientists and therapists to consider when it comes to advising athletes on planning pregnancies, training whilst pregnant, and shaping support networks and systems to support athletes that want to start a family?

Here is the key paper and some other notable resources discussed in the podcast:

Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/8/452

Why can’t I exercise during pregnancy? Time to revisit medical ‘absolute’ and ‘relative’ contraindications: systematic review of evidence of harm and a call to action https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/23/1395