DOM: I’m Dom Du Toit and I’m about to become a mum for the first time, which still feels surreal. I couldn’t be more excited. I don’t fully know what to expect but I already know it’s the most special thing I’ve ever experienced.

I’m a two-time Olympian and Comm Games athlete in Rugby Sevens and spent ten years as a full-time professional athlete. Now I’m transitioning into this next chapter of motherhood, and I’m really looking forward to embracing a completely different kind of challenge.

EMMA: I’m currently a Cronulla Sharks NRLW player and a two-time Olympian with the Australian Rugby Sevens team. Winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics is still the highlight of my sporting career and something I am incredibly proud of! Alongside playing rugby league , I work part time with the Sharks delivering community disability programs, as I’m also a qualified Occupational Therapist. It’s something I’m really passionate about and love being able to balance alongside my playing career. I was born and raised in Wollongong, NSW, where I’m still based with my husband Jamie. We’re very lucky to have our family close by, and I’ve always been such a family person. I’m also so excited to be stepping into a new chapter, as we’re currently expecting our first baby, due in July.

DOM: For most of my life movement has been about high intensity, high impact and pushing my body beyond what I thought I was capable of. Pregnancy has completely shifted that mindset.

Now, I’m moving more intentionally and more mindfully. It’s about doing what feels good and listening to my body, rather than pushing through. At the same time, I’m still doing what I can to prepare my body for birth and for postpartum recovery, knowing that will be one of the biggest physical challenges I’ve ever faced.


EMMA:  It’s definitely taken some getting used to, and it’s still something I’m navigating every day. As an athlete, I’ve always been really in tune with my body, but pregnancy has challenged that in a completely new way. I’m still contracted with the Sharks, so I’ve had great support through the club, but at the same time it’s such a personal experience. I’ve found that no two pregnancies are the same, which can make it hard not to compare. I’ve also recently signed a three-year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2027, so I know returning to professional sport is something I’m both determined and really excited to do. The biggest shift for me has been learning to slow down and truly listen to my body. That hasn’t always come naturally. In the first trimester especially, I found it challenging when my body just needed rest. I went from training at a high intensity five to six times a week to struggling to do any exercise at all. It’s definitely been a lesson in patience and adjusting expectations, but also in trusting that my body is doing exactly what it needs to.

What has surprised you most about how your body changes during pregnancy?

DOM: Honestly, I’m just in awe. The way your body instinctively knows what to do, growing, changing and supporting a new life, it’s pretty incredible. It’s made me appreciate my body on a completely different level, beyond performance or appearance.

EMMA: I think what’s surprised me most is just how much your body changes beyond the physical side of things. I expected the visible changes, but I didn’t fully realise how different I would feel in my body day to day. As an athlete, I’ve always felt really strong, capable and in control, so it’s been a big shift to have moments where I feel completely exhausted or not able to do what I normally would. At the same time, I’ve also been really amazed by what my body is doing. Even on the days where I don’t feel like myself, it’s a reminder that my body is working so hard to grow a baby, which is pretty incredible!

Have you had to rethink your relationship with performance and physical expectations during this time?

DOM: Definitely. Early on, I was still training like I was competing. When my energy dropped and I started feeling nauseous, I found it really hard to adjust. I felt guilty for not being able to maintain that same level. Over time I’ve had to reframe what performance means. Right now, movement is about feeling good and supporting my baby, not high performance. It’s more about practical performance than peak performance and that shift has been really important.

EMMA: Absolutely. I’ve had to shift my mindset and accept that any movement is a positive, and that it’s also okay to rest, which hasn’t always come naturally to me (something my husband reminds me of regularly). I’m constantly reminding myself to slow down and rest, especially after big work days or long drives up to Cronulla and back.

Are there any new forms of movement or exercise you’ve embraced during pregnancy?

DOM: I’ve definitely slowed things down. I’ve always leaned towards high intensity training but that’s not what I’ve been enjoying or what is necessary for me during pregnancy. I’ve started walking a lot more, which is something I never really prioritised before and I’ve also increased the amount of Pilates I’m doing. I absolutely love Pilates!

EMMA: I’ve been really into pilates! I’ve got a reformer at home, so on days when I don’t have the energy to complete a high intensity workout, I love the change up.

How are you preparing for the transition from athlete to athlete-mum?

DOM: As athletes we’re so used to structure, routine and feeling in control and I know motherhood is going to flip a lot of that on its head. I’m trying to go into it with an open mind rather than putting pressure on myself to have everything figured out. Giving myself permission to learn as I go, to slow down and to not do it perfectly. I’m also really leaning on the people around me and building a strong support system. I think that’s been a big shift, realising you’re not meant to do this on your own.

EMMA:  Physically, I’ve been seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist to support all the changes happening in my body and to prepare as best I can for both labour and recovery. It’s also about setting myself up with the right support for when I eventually return to sport.

Mentally, I’m really trying to enjoy the pregnancy and not put too much pressure on my return. I know there will be plenty of ups and downs, so I’m focusing on going with the flow and taking it as it comes.

What aspects of motherhood are you most excited about?

DOM: I’m most excited to share it all with my fiance, Bart. Those quiet moments where it’s just us, in complete awe of this little human we’ve created. I’m really excited for us to become a family and to step into that new version of life together.

I’m also really excited to see who I become as a mum. So many of my friends have said it’s made them a better person and even a better athlete and I can’t wait to experience that for myself and show our baby what it means to chase something you love.

EMMA: I honestly am just so excited to meet our baby and hold and smother them with love! Becoming a mum is something I have been dreaming about for a long time, and after a long fertility journey, I am so ready to meet our mini! I am also really excited to see my husband become a dad, I feel he is going to turn to absolute mush and I am so here for it!

Pregnancy in elite sport is becoming more visible. What does it mean to you to represent pregnant athletes?

DOM : It means a lot. For a long time, there hasn’t been much visibility around pregnancy in elite sport, so to be part of that shift feels really special. For me I think it’s really important to show that performance and motherhood aren’t mutually exclusive. They can exist together, just in different ways. If sharing my experience helps normalise pregnancy and shows that you can move through different seasons of life without losing your identity as an athlete, then that’s something I’m really proud of. It’s also a reminder that there’s so much more to life alongside sport and that’s so exciting.

EMMA: I was always inspired by other pregnant athletes and even just people at my local gym, so I would love the chance to be that for someone else!

Were there any athlete mums who have inspired you along the way?

DOM: Two of my best friends and former teammates, Emilee Cherry and Alicia Quirk, have been incredibly inspiring. Watching them transition into motherhood while still holding onto who they are as athletes has been so powerful. They’ve shown me that while being an athlete is an amazing part of your identity, nothing compares to becoming a mum and that it’s possible to do both. Having them to learn from and lean on has made this transition feel a lot less daunting.

EMMA: There is a new wave of pregnant athletes and new mums in the NRLW which I think is so inspiring. I got to see my teammate Caitlin Johnson-Green return to play following the birth of her daughter last year which was very special. On another note, Tia-Clair Toomey’s journey has been absolutely incredible to watch and follow!  

If your future child could watch one moment from your sporting career, which would it be?

DOM: I always thought it would be something like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or World Cups but I think it would actually be the moments that aren’t on the big screen. The hard work behind the scenes and the fun everyday moments with your teammates are what make it all so special. I’d hope that by seeing that, they’d understand that with hard work and belief, you really can achieve your wildest dreams.

EMMA: It hasn’t happened yet, but I hope one day they get to watch me return to the field after having them, and then run out after the game for a kiss and cuddle with mum.

During pregnancy, what have you enjoyed wearing the most for comfort?

DOM: I’ve been living in activewear. It’s stretchy, soft, and doesn’t dig in anywhere. I’m sure all pregnant mums understand this feeling. More recently, I’ve been loving the Mumma Milla bodysuit as well. It’s incredibly comfortable and feels really supportive.

EMMA: As it has been mostly summer, I’ve loved just wearing shorts and a crop or bralette! I always have my belly out and find this has been most comfortable

We'd love to hear why you love our leakproof bodysuit, and other Mumma Milla bras and cami's?

DOM: The comfort is the biggest thing for me. The fabric feels so soft against your skin, and everything is designed in a way that actually supports your body as it changes. But what I also love is that they still feel elevated. You feel comfortable but you also feel put together and confident, which can make such a difference during pregnancy.

EMMA: They are honestly so comfortable. I started leaking really early in my pregnancy, so I needed to find reliable leakproof options sooner than expected. The Mumma Mila leakproof bandeau bralette has been a lifesaver, and I already know I’ll be living in it postpartum. What I love most is not having to worry about leaks throughout the day, it gives me so much confidence and peace of mind. The bodysuit is also amazing. It feels really supportive while still being incredibly comfortable, which is something I’ve found hard to balance during pregnancy.