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Is it reasonable to play high-level sports while pregnant… like Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez who participated in the Olympic Games at 7 months pregnant? A sports coach specializing in pregnancy and postpartum answers our questions.
Among the athletes at the Paris Olympics, Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez caught the eye. After her defeat in the round of 16, the high-level athlete announced that she was seven months pregnant. An unexpected revelation that raised some questions among spectators about practicing sports during pregnancy. Caroline Rinaudo, sports coach specializing in pregnancy and postpartum and author of the book “My pregnancy in shape“shares his opinion on this case, as well as his expert advice!
“If she did it, it’s because she felt capable of it.”
“First of all, it is very important to distinguish high-level athletes from the rest of the population”the coach begins about the fencer. “She is an athlete, which means that fencing is her profession and she trains every day. So you shouldn’t compare her to everyone else.”. Then, as for all women who wish to practice a physical activity during their pregnancy, the secret is to listen to your body and follow your feelings.If Nada Hafez felt capable of participating in the Olympic Games, she was absolutely right” says Caroline Rinaudo. “She knows her body better than anyone.”
If in her book, the coach advises against seeking sporting performance when pregnant (even for sportswomen), she distinguishes the particular case of high-level athletes: “They are so used to competition that it doesn’t really require them to step out of their comfort zone.”According to the coach, we should worry less about a possible danger than salute the incredible performance achieved by a woman at 7 months of pregnancy.
She is not the first pregnant woman to compete in the Olympics, since French basketball player Valériane Ayayi Vukosavljević was also pregnant during the competition in 2021. This did not prevent her from receiving a bronze medal! The expert recalls that “Even if it may seem unconscious to some, high-level pregnant athletes are monitored by specialist trainers and have every chance of performing.”
Be careful with certain dangerous sports, however.
Another piece of information to consider in Nada Hafez’s case is the sport she practices. “Fencing is a touch sport and wearing protective gear is mandatory. There is therefore little risk of injury.” explains Caroline Rinaudo.
“This is not the case with boxing, surfing or rugby for example.” Indeed, contact sports, combat sports or sports with a risk of falling are very dangerous during pregnancy, including for high-level athletes. “As long as we cannot control everything, whether because of our opponents or external conditions, there is a real danger for the baby, and this from the first months of pregnancy!” adds Caroline Rinaudo.
In general, the author of “My pregnancy in shape” recalls in his book the warning signs during a sports session:
- Marked shortness of breath that persists at rest;
- A feeling of intense fatigue;
- Dizziness or fainting;
- A pain in the chest;
- Abnormal pain or swelling in a calf;
- Muscle weakness with loss of balance;
- Painful or regular uterine contractions;
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid loss.
If you experience any of these symptoms during a session (whether you are athletic or not), it is essential to stop the sporting activity you are doing and contact your gynecologist as soon as possible to check that everything is okay!
Slideshow: 10 tips to stay fit and in shape during pregnancy