A Crystal Palace women’s player has been training seven months pregnant, sporting a baby bump.
Justine Vanhaevermaet, a 34-year-old midfielder for the club, was praised by the club on social media for her work ethic.
The Belgian international is expecting a baby in September with her physiotherapist fiance Thomas De Jonghe.
Vanhaevermaet joined Crystal Palace last summer and helped them gain an immediate promotion back to the Women’s Super League.
She will not be the only new mother in the squad as her team-mate Josie Green, a Wales star, welcomed a daughter on Thursday alongside her partner Marcus Gan.
‘Seven months pregnant and still putting the work in,’ Crystal Palace posted on X as they shared photos of her training.
Crystal Palace Women’s star Justine Vanhaevermaet has been training seven months pregnant
She is expecting a baby in September with her physiotherapist fiancee Thomas De Jonghe
Vanhaevermaet was all smiles as she took to the training pitch ahead of the WSL campaign
Vanhaevermaet also showed off her keepy-uppy skills in one clip.
Training seven months pregnant has precedent – United States legend Alex Morgan did the same in 2020, for example. Norwegian runner Ingrid Kristiansen won the Houston marathon while unknowingly five months pregnant.
NHS guidance advises women to ‘keep up your normal daily physical activity or exercise for as long as you feel comfortable’.
It adds: ‘Exercise is not dangerous for your baby. There is evidence that active women are less likely to experience problems in later pregnancy and labour.
‘Do not exhaust yourself. You may need to slow down as your pregnancy progresses or if your maternity team advises you to. If in doubt, consult your maternity team.
‘As a general rule, you should be able to hold a conversation as you exercise when pregnant. If you become breathless as you talk, then you’re probably exercising too strenuously.’
However, playing football while pregnant does carry the risk of falling, or being struck in the abdomen by a stray ball. There is a heightened risk of falling while pregnant due to having a different centre of gravity and looser joints and ligaments.
