11 Amazing Things Women Have Done While Pregnant

Some have speculated that Marissa Mayer won’t be able to handle her new CEO duties while pregnant.

Pregnant Olympian Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi in 2012.

Image by STRINGER/MALAYSIA / Reuters

1. Competed in the Olympics

Malaysian shooter Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi will likely be the most pregnant Olympian ever (at least by duration of pregnancy) when she competes in London at eight months along. A number of other pregnant athletes, including Canadian curler Kristie Moore, have competed in the Olympics over the years.

2. Served in Congress

In 2007, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R.-Wash.) gave birth to her first child while serving in Congress. She was still in the House when she became pregnant again, in 2010. Her aides said she was the fifth woman to give birth while a member of Congress.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R.-Wash.).

Image by Mark Wilson / Getty Images

3. Fought in a war

British soldier Kayla Donnelly served in Afghanistan for seven months while unbeknownst to her, she was pregnant. For a while, US military rules stipulated that any soldier who became pregnant in Iraq would be disciplined — this rule was later reversed.

4. Covered a war

In 2010, journalist Elizabeth Rubin opened up about her experiences as a pregnant war correspondent in Afghanistan. A number of other women have covered the war in Iraq while pregnant.

5. Ran a marathon

Amber Miller gave birth mere hours after finishing the 2011 Chicago Marathon. She ran the first half of the race and walked the second half, for a total time of 6.5 hours.

Amber Miller after her marathon and childbirth.

Image by Mark Black / AP

6. Climbed giant rocks

Aimee Roseborrough was still outdoor rock-climbing at Joshua Tree National Park into her eighth month. She said that while climbing, “I do kind of get to forget that I’m so huge and, at times, uncomfortable.”

7. Swam the English Channel

In 2001, Regan Schreiber swam the Channel, a distance of thirty miles, at 11 weeks pregnant. It took her nine hours and thirty minutes.

8. Edited glossy magazines

Anna Wintour was well-established in the magazine world during both her pregnancies, editing British Vogue and Home & Garden. She reportedly continued wearing Chanel miniskirt suits through both pregnancies.

Wintour with daughter Bee Shaffer in July.

Image by Julien M. Hekimian / Getty Images

9. Lifted heavy weights

Chilean weightlifter Elizabeth Poblete gave birth while training at her gym in 2009. She hadn’t known she was pregnant.

Elizabeth Poblete competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She gave birth in 2009.

Source: cache.daylife.com

10. Flown commercial jets

Pilot Stephanie Wallach found out she was pregnant in 1982, three days after her airline (Braniff) closed its doors. She says, “No one would have hired a pregnant pilot in 1982. Now they do.” The FAA currently allows women to fly during normal pregnancies.

11. Fought crime

In 2011, a pregnant Argentinian police officer was reportedly shot in the hand in the line of duty. Luckily she was able to walk to safety, and was taken to a hospital for treatment. In the US, pregnant police officers are supposed to be transferred to light duty — unfortunately, some say they’ve been fired or forced to take unpaid leave instead. Former officer Krystal Nix, who says she was stripped of her job when she got pregnant, has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.