Female athletes and challenges of motherhood

               Vivian Cheruiyot with husband and son    Photo: Courtesy

When 5,000 and 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot announced that she was taking leave to have a baby, and would consequently not be defending her world championship medals, the reaction was fast and furious.

Many congratulated and wished her and her family well. But there were those, perhaps tongue in cheek, who said Vivian was a national asset and were disappointed saying the Ethiopians would overrun us in her absence. More worrying was the big elephant in the room: Would the pint-sized runner nicknamed ‘Pocket Rocket’ make a successful return to the track after the rigours of childbirth?

According to Dr John Ong’ech, a consultant gynecologist and head of gynecology at Kenyatta National Hospital, “People just want to see them winning but little attention is never paid to the day to day struggles of the female athlete. One athlete once told me she feared undergoing a caesarean section, and that I would kill her career if normal delivery couldn’t work.”

And in a revelation that will surprise athletics fans, Dr Ong’ech says female athletes are more likely to have ovulation and menstrual disorders that thwart conception, and that in any case, pregnancy comes with the physiological changes that affect a woman’s body making a return to racing a big challenge.

“A number of our runners have reproductive health issues that are mainly caused by the vigorous exercises that change metabolism and cause hormonal imbalance,” says the gynecologist.

The Nairobian caught up with Vivian Cheruiyot, her husband Moses Kiplagat and baby Allan Kiprono Kiplagat.

“It feels nice to have a baby. At least now when I take to the track, I know that there’s someone special out there cheering me,” the 29 year old explains as she changes young Allan’s diapers.

“My last race was in 2012, and I’m very happy I took this step to be a mother. Life is not just about athletics but about family too. I gave birth at 11:00pm on the eve of Mashujaa Day, na najuvunia kwamba mtoto wangu pia ni shujaa (I’m proud my baby is a hero, too,” joked Vivian.

Named Cheruiyot to mean ‘one born during bedtime’, Vivian explains that she has since found a new source of happiness even though the walk hasn’t been easy–  they had to make many sacrifices just to start a family.

“We had planned for the baby way back in 2012, with an agreement between my husband, manager and I, that I take some time off after the London Olympics. So, I had to miss the 2013 World Championships with the plan of bouncing back in time for the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics.”

According to Vivian, most of the international athletes tend to perform better after pregnancy.

“From my days in youth championships, I have always looked up to Catherine Ndereba. Her life as an athlete gives me a lot of inspiration,” says the long distance runner from Keiyo District who aims to start training this April and be back on the track in early 2015.

 “We will balance athletics and parenthood well, and I am ready to take care of Allan. The fact that we now have a baby gives her even more reason to work hard because there are lots of expectations and responsibilities,” says her husband, Moses.

But Dr Ong’ech says the pressure that comes with motherhood takes a toll on the athletes since a breast feeding woman needs piece of mind.

“Pregnancy extends to postnatal care and that’s why many a time, when an athlete wants to have a baby, she must take time off from the sport just to prepare her body for pregnancy and life after giving birth,” he says.

The journey towards explaining the pains and gains of motherhood for female athletes led our writer to Catherine Ndereba.

The four-time Boston Marathon Champion further clarifies that the female athlete who wants to have a baby faces tough decisions.

“There are some agents and managers who only want to see you run and make more money without thinking about your needs as a family woman. Remember the life span of an athlete is very short so, some coaches too tend to maximise on your potential before you get old,” she adds.

“If the manager doesn’t agree with you about starting up a family, then the mental torture will be too much, making it difficult to focus on running,” says the senior prison warder.

But away from the coaches and managers, female athletes could also face pressure from her own parents and even in-laws. Catherine says if there’s no cooperation between a female athlete and her partner/husband, then both the family and the athlete’s career could be doomed.

“In-laws become a nightmare because once you are married, there will always be some talk amongst your husband’s people. Some count the years, saying ‘Amemaliza mwaka moja, mbili, tatu kwani yeye hapati mtoto (It’s been one, two, three years, why isn’t she getting a baby)?’”

“In my case, I thank God because I was lucky to get a loving and understanding husband as well. My daughter is turning 17 yet I don’t have a second born, and I’m under no pressure whatsoever.”

Like Vivian, Catherine’s husband became a baby sitter, sucking up all the pressure responsibilities that come with nurturing a child when his wife went back to racing.

“But it was not easy. I remember the first day when I went back to training; I only did 20 minutes and fainted. I don’t know what happened. I had added so much weight and my body took long to heal,” Catherine says.