SUPER (M)OMS

The miraculous process of growing a baby produces some pretty significant changes in a woman's body, mind, and emotional well-being. Five women tell us why it's crucial to cultivate an open, supportive and non-judgmental environment to achieve the healthiest motherhood journey - from pregnancy to birth and postpartum

- RADHIKA AGRAWAL

Mothers are the ultimate endurance athletes. While the pregnancy journey ends after nine months, a mother's journey is lifelong. Motherhood is also a start of a new chapter of a woman's relationship with her body. In our country, most mothers are exposed to rigid beliefs passed on by friends and family, and have to conform to social and cultural expectations, believing them to be the 'ideals' of motherhood.

Many mothers are discouraged from being active during their pregnancy. With all the attention diverted towards the child, postpartum moms tend to drop out of their daily activity routine at a time when health and wellness are crucial.

Nike believes motherhood is the start of a new stage - not a stop - in a woman's wellness journey. Made for mothers by mothers, Nike's maternity collection, Nike (M), was designed to support them on the ultramarathon called motherhood.

What's remarkable is that the collection doesn't look like maternity wear - instead, every piece grows with the mother by adapting to the changes in her body, ensuring that pre-pregnancy size stays with her from the first baby bump to the birth of her child and beyond. So, pregnant and postpartum moms can find the support they need to keep moving.

Five mothers in various stages of their pregnancies tell us about motherhood's less-discussed aspects, the everyday joys and challenges, and what fitness means to them.

With each mother's journey varying from the other, their experiences don't have a common thread, except that behind every perfect mother, there are imperfections she hides - stretch marks, baby weight, mood swings, lack of motivation, fatigue, mom guilt, and the inability to manage all.

Yet, many don't realize just how magnificent, magnetic, motivational, and magical they are. If there was one message from all the moms we spoke to, it is: I am a mother and so much more. I am (M)e.