Serena of all supermoms

When Serena Williams, hailed as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), announced that she was pregnant, the whole world responded with a surprised gasp. It was just weeks ago that the tennis superstar won the Australian Open without dropping a single set — her foetus should have been eight weeks old then. The news in no time set off a verbal duel in the cyber world between many admiring her amazing physical and inner strength, and others considering it ‘disrespectful’ and dangerous to the baby and an act trivialising motherhood.

With gynaecologists usually advising women to be cautious during week one to 12 that is the first trimester, does Serena’s graceful win bust the myths surrounding pregnancy care?  Such as one should not engage in strenuous physical activities or undergo emotional stress?

“Not necessarily,” says Dr Deepa Ganesh, Chennai-based laparoscopic and cosmetic gynaecologist, “Usually, one would not realise that they are pregnant till the eighth or ninth week; they might not feel any symptoms till then. We normally suggest avoiding physical activity only if they have symptoms like spotting or have had a history of miscarriage or were undergoing IVF treatment.”

In Serena’s case, pregnancy could have helped her put up her best show. “People who are physically active like Serena, have good cardiac activity and during pregnancy, their blood volume and cardiac output increases. More blood flows into the muscles, oxygen supply increases and the hormones secreting oestrogen, progesterone and some amount of testosterone will increase the muscle mass. Of course, it varies with person. But this could have boosted her performance too,” feels Dr Deepa.There is also a popular belief that pregnancy in women above 30 years falls under the high-risk category.

By undergoing long practice sessions, emotional stress and hectic training, 35-year-old Serena surprised everyone. “After 30 years, bone strength reduces and women are at a risk of developing hypertension and diabetes and due to their age, the child too has a risk of Down’s syndrome. But now-a-days, marriage and pregnancies happen late. But we have all facilities to keep a tab on the baby’s growth, check genetic disorders and  take care of the mother’s health. With proper monitoring and increased checkups, delivering a healthy baby is not difficult,” opines Dr Manjula Anagani, Chief Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Hyderabad.

For most of the expectant mothers out there, pregnancy is no easy phase. It is a time of sickness that goes beyond ‘morning’, of extreme fatigue, of throw-up sprees and an emotional rollercoaster. So what makes Serena class apart?

“Definitely her training,” says Dr Manjula. She further adds, “Taking care of her lower back is extremely important. With proper liquid intake, adequate diet that ensures good calorie intake, physiotherapy, controlled exposure to heat to avoid dehydration, exercises and getting enough breaks, a healthy pregnancy is possible for Serena. But since the uterus is a low-resistant organ, she should not fall and subject it to any trauma. Otherwise, she can deliver a healthy baby.” However, Serena is not the first pregnant sportsperson in her best form. Kerri Walsh Jennings won her Olympic gold in beach volleyball when she was five weeks pregnant. Canadian curler Kristie Moore sported a five-month baby bump when she won silver at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

‘Flying Flower’ Alysia Montaño was just six weeks away from giving birth to her daughter when she competed in an 800-m race. Do all these examples mean that it is safe for pregnant women to engage in hardcore sports?

Dr Deepa says that there is no need to stigmatise lighter sports, though she wouldn’t advise a ‘rough sport’ after eight weeks. “We have instances of heavily pregnant women participating in marathons.  “Exercise is usually recommended. Walking, running, and hitting the gym are fine, especially if you  have been doing it before pregnancy; just make sure that you remain in the comfort zone. The moment you feel uncomfortable, stop doing it,” she stresses.

Dr Manjula concurs, “Being a sportsperson, Serena’s  abdominal walls will be stronger than normal pregnant women. So, that makes her different from others. But if others try to imitate her, it might lead to complications.  “Exercising under proper supervision is recommended; even swimming is good. You just need to ensure than the uterus doesn’t suffer any trauma.” In short, not all moms-to-be can be stellar like the ‘GOAT’, but by carrying a life, they are still superwomen.