You may have heard that building a human takes more energy than two marathons. But that's only the beginning.
Motherhood Is an Endurance Sport
We’re celebrating the athletes, artists, workers, and warriors also known as moms, who embody endurance in every form. At Needed, we believe it’s time we start talking about motherhood not just as a beautiful, messy journey, but as the ultimate endurance sport. Because that’s exactly what it is. Let’s take a look at the facts.
The Ultimate Athletic Feat
Growing a human requires more than grit. It requires fuel – and a lot of it.
Building a baby burns an average of 50,000 calories.
That’s the equivalent of running nearly two marathons. But unlike a race, there’s no pre-training season, no carb loading, and no recovery day after delivery. Your body is working around the clock—creating an entire nervous system, circulatory system, and skeletal structure from scratch.
To sustain this kind of biological performance, your body pulls nutrients like Protein, Choline, Calcium, Iron, Folate, Magnesium, and Omega-3 fatty acids,not just from what you eat, but often from your own reserves. If your diet (or prenatal) doesn’t replenish them adequately, your body will still prioritize baby’s needs Leaving you depleted and at risk of longer-term health effects like fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, or bone density loss. That’s one reason so many mothers feel physically depleted after birth.
Labor: The Ultramarathon No One Prepares You For
Labor is a full-body athletic event, only sadly all too often without the right support team, fuel stations, or guaranteed sleep.
First-time labors last 12 to 24 hours on average, with many extending well beyond that. That’s equivalent to the duration of a 50-mile ultramarathon, but with far less control over pacing or hydration. It’s one of the most intense muscular and mental efforts a body can endure.
At the same time, your heart is working 30 to 50 percent harder during pregnancy. Blood volume increases by up to 50 percent to support your growing baby and placenta. It’s a cardiovascular load that rivals elite athletic training.
Endurance Isn’t Just Physical—It’s Mental
The real stamina test begins after birth.
Motherhood demands a kind of mental and emotional endurance that isn’t measured in steps or heart rate. It’s found in the 3 a.m. feedings, the decision fatigue, the identity shifts, the invisible mental load. It's showing up again and again when you're touched out, burnt out, and barely holding it together.
Maternal burnout is real and rising. Studies show 14 percent of mothers meet the criteria for high burnout, with many more silently struggling. Unlike workplace burnout, maternal burnout is often normalized, ignored, or minimized. But it’s no less serious—and it requires real recovery.
What the Body Actually Needs
You wouldn’t expect a marathon runner to perform on no sleep and no fuel. Yet that’s often exactly what mothers are expected to do. Here’s what the body needs across each stage of the perinatal journey:
Preconception + First Trimester
Focus: Nutrient reserves, hormonal balance, early development
Key nutrients: Folate (not folic acid), B12, iron, iodine, omega-3s, zinc
Support: Comprehensive prenatal, blood sugar balance, foundational nourishment
Second + Third Trimester
Focus: Baby’s rapid growth, placenta, and blood volume
Key nutrients: Choline, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and K2, protein, iron
Support: Caloric increase, hydration, gentle movement, sleep support
Labor + Immediate Postpartum
Focus: Tissue repair, hormonal recalibration, milk production
Key nutrients: Collagen, omega-3s, electrolytes, protein
Support: Birth snacks, postpartum nutrient support, emotional support
Ongoing Postpartum Recovery
Focus: Mental health, nutrient repletion, energy, identity integration
Key nutrients: Omega-3s (especially DHA), magnesium, B-complex, probiotics, adaptogens
Support: Sleep, boundaries, therapy, community, flexible work policies
Nutrient depletion doesn’t resolve at six weeks. Studies show it can persist for years postpartum. That’s why recovery is not a luxury. It’s a critical part of endurance.
Meet Our Champions
Katie Hoff Anderson, three-time Olympic medalist turned IVF champion.
Meet Needed Champion Leanne Hainsby-Alldis, Peloton instructor and women’s health advocate.
Meet Needed Champion, Stephanie Case, an ultramarathoner and human rights lawyer, and new mother.
That’s Why at Needed, we’re celebrating the real endurance athletes, mothers.
Through stories, expert guidance, and targeted support, we’re exploring what it means to not just survive this season, but to truly thrive. Because thriving in motherhood doesn’t mean pushing harder. It means learning how to recover, refuel, and redefine strength on your own terms.
Learn More about the Research Needed to Fight Maternal Depletion HERE.
