“Returning to Derby After Pregancy” ~ T. Rex Ya Face

In early 2008, I was engaged to my boyfriend that I had been with for seven years. I knew we’d be soon making plans for a wedding and a family but something huge was in the way: roller derby. I had been balls to the wall consumed with roller derby since Sept 2006 when I walked into the rink for the first time. The 2008 season was a good year for DDG. We had some nice wins under our belts, and were getting the chance to play top ranked teams like Detroit and Madison. After a unfortunate declined invite to the Eastern Regional Tournament due to lack of skaters, and also a loss to Tuscon, the season ended in early September. We spent the next few months getting our numbers up and re-organizing the league to gear up for 2009. In late November, I found out I was pregnant. I was nothing but happy and what perfect timing. You think of it from the outside and it seems like a long time without skating, but being pregnant, my mind was consumed. I still attended and coached tons of practices and bench coached a few games. I was even awarded Member of the Month for my hard work during the time I was off skates. By the start of the summer, about seven months into my pregnancy, I was ready to get back on the track and start skating.

I gave birth to Bridget Niamh on August 06 2009. She was 7lbs 7oz. and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

As a new Mom, some days went by so fast and some so slowly. I was ready to get back on the track. Against the wishes of my doctor, husband, family, I donned skates again for the first time two weeks to the day after I gave birth. All I did was skate around the outer edge of the track, but dammit I WAS READY. I knew that no matter how bad I wanted to start skating again, I needed to wait until I was given the “all clear” by my doctor, which came in the beginning of September.
Coming back to a league I’ve never skated with was a bit strange. There was an entire new crop of skaters filling the spots on the team that I last skated with. Its was great though. All my old cronies kept pumping my jamming skills up to all the new girls and that really added pressure on me to be as good as I was before I had my baby. Ugggh! It was hard. I went slow. I took it one lap at a time to get my skate legs back in gear and after a few weeks I stared to feel more agile and comfortable on my skates. At the end of my first month, I took my eval to start scrimmaging again. I passed and from them on I was “back on the team.” Still not where I left off last year but not that far behind.
I gained 70 pounds during my pregnancy. I was a skinny 115lbs before and coming back to derby I was not 115 by any means. I have, to date, lost about 40 pounds and the last bit of baby weight is just hanging on for dear life. Thank goodness derby doesn’t require a certain type of body to play. I tell myself that thirty pounds just makes me hit harder. I knew all that pizza and creme brulee would have its benefits one day. Ha!

Having a baby during my derby career wasn’t bad at all. It gave me a well deserved break for my knees. It allowed me to a necessary step back and gave me the oppotunity to prioritize everything I did for the sport to make all that I do better. Bridget is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I skate for her now, as corny as that sounds… When I get pregnant again a few years down the road, I know that my league will be there and welcome me back again with open arms.

1 Comment

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  By Chris, January 2, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

  I know how you feel. I had my son recently I was not as happy to be pregnant. My pregnancy has a ton of complications so I was not able to be at practice and be as involved as much. I am so glad to be back.

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