Getting fit, fast and strong: My postpartum journey by Shiray Kaka

Shiray is an Olympic gold winning rugby sevens legend who last year I had the pleasure of working with, from early pregnancy back to play. Big thank you to her for answering a few questions around her experience from pro athlete to mother and back again.

Shiray out getting her steps in with her gorgeous son!

How did you find the pregnancy, birth, postpartum journey overall?

Pregnancy and my c-section experience were good. I had lots of social media projects on the go through my pregnancy and so was very busy and maybe a bit naive so just went with the flow. But the postpartum journey has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do!

What has been the most challenging thing about returning to exercise postpartum?

It has taken me a long time to learn my new bod and had loads of regret about not doing more exercise in pregnancy to make the return to sport easier. Doing a renovation show through a pregnancy puts exercise on the backburner! But once I got over this mindset, I have really enjoyed getting into my new routine and learning how to move again.

The mum guilt is also real. I have found it really hard to leave my son and do things for myself, especially when he won’t take a bottle. As an athlete I could be selfish but understanding I can’t be selfish anymore has been a real learning curve.

What has helped you the most?

I am very lucky to have a little team around me, a pelvic health physio, sports physio, nutritionist and strength coach. This has really taken the thinking out of it and has really helped.

Also telling my husband exactly what I need, even if it doesn’t make any sense, getting it off my chest is helpful.

One tip for others?

If you can, stay active in your pregnancy, it makes the other side much easier. And maybe get your baby on a bottle earlier haha!

What’s the end goal?

Orginally it was around making a team. But now my focus is getting back to being fit, fast and strong! So whatever team I go to next will get the best out of me. I feel like I am getting closer to this all the time!