I'd guess the naysayers concerns are more around Gun Shot Residue / Lead & other toxic exposure, and possible physical trauma from gun kick back, and noise than they are about her being active.
I had a 9 month couch sabbatical too ... mostly because over 1/2 my pregnancy I was in terrible pain. Maybe next pregnancy!? I have high hopes to keep up yoga like the 2 pregnant ladies in my class that are way more fit pregnant that my 1 year post baby body.

This woman is a professional, she knows what she's doing. She's not placing her child at any oddly significant risk. There's more risk, danger, and potential harm in driving to the local grocer. People should be proud and supportive on two points. Not only is she competeing at a "man's sport", but she's doing it while pregnant. And, at an olympic level! GO GIRL!

Moledazy wrote:I'd guess the naysayers concerns are more around Gun Shot Residue / Lead & other toxic exposure, and possible physical trauma from gun kick back, and noise than they are about her being active.
I had a 9 month couch sabbatical too ... mostly because over 1/2 my pregnancy I was in terrible pain. Maybe next pregnancy!? I have high hopes to keep up yoga like the 2 pregnant ladies in my class that are way more fit pregnant that my 1 year post baby body.

I think most of the "naysayers" haven't checked out the facts. The sport this women is involved in is air rifle so there is no "gun shot residue" the projectiles have no lead or any other toxic anything. Air Rifles have virtualy no "gun kick back" which is called recoil by the way and there is very little noise involved. I applaud this women and wish her all the best.

I think if the woman aka Olympian is healthy enough to qualify for the team,chances are she and her baby are healthy enough to compete. Good luck to her. I think it would be cool if she won a metal too.
As far as the naysayers, they're just finding someone new to bad mouth.

Presumably she has some sort of medical clearance from a physician, in which case, more power to her! I was "active" during most of this pregnancy in that I was working overtime (6 days a week) at a stressful job that required me to be on my feet constantly...until I got pre-eclampsia and was put on bed rest just before 33 weeks. So I've been a couch potato for the past month but hey, I'm still pregnant and now I'm full term!

lee827 wrote:I think most of the "naysayers" haven't checked out the facts. The sport this women is involved in is air rifle

When I was a kid, the Summer Olympics was mostly about Track & Field, Gymnastics, Swimming, Boxing, and Weightlifting. Now they have Badminton, Trampoline Jumping, BMX Riding, Golf, and BB Guns. But no Baseball. Because that's not a sport.

Hope she wins gold. More power to her! (And I hope she doesn't name the kid Olympus.)

I sat on my butt on the couch with my first kid. With the second one I was a lot more active, and my physical recovery was a LOT easier - and that's after a caesarian with each delivery.

I'm using my admittedly small sample size of two, but I'd say that I'd agree with the more active you are the easier it is to 'bounce back' afterward.

I continued staying active right up until my water broke. My doctor encouraged me to enjoy doing my favorite physical activities, but at a naturally slower pace. I did have to give up bicycling around the 7th month due to my center of gravity being off and a fear of crashing and breaking bones.

This strategy allowed me to keep my weight and stress in check. I also had an amazingly short recovery from a 2nd c-section.

If her doctor gave her the green light, I see nothing wrong with her pursuing her Olympic dreams. After the baby comes, she is going to be busy with other priorities.