Mallory Weggemann, Husband Jay, Welcome First Child

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Photo Courtesy: TFA Group

Paralympic champion Mallory Weggemann and her husband Jay Snyder welcomed a daughter, Charlotte into the world on Tuesday.

“Charlotte Ann Snyder. You have completely shifted our world and filled our hearts with more love then we ever imagined possible! On March 16th at 3:31am we welcomed this sweet little miracle into the world. There truly aren’t words at this moment for the love we feel – holding her in our arms after long carrying this sweet soul in our hearts is a joy unlike any other. Over the course of our journey @people has followed along bedside us in effort to destigmatize the conversation of male factor infertility, change perception of parenthood with a disability and refute the idea that professional female athlete must choose between motherhood and their career. We are beyond grateful for their support in this journey and so honored to have them alongside us as we share the joy of sweet Charlotte’s arrival!”

 

 

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It was the final stage in a long journey with fertility issues that left Weggemann not knowing if she could ever get pregnant.

“Going through infertility is tough. There is no sugarcoating it. We are 30 weeks pregnant, but we know that if we want any more, there are a lot of things that will have to go into that, too,” Mallory Weggemann told Swimming World in January. “As an athlete, you had to time treatment cycles and make sure the hormones they have you on are cleared by USADA and WADA. We had to shift our transfer cycle because one of the meds I needed was prohibited in competition. It is an emotional, physical and financial strain. My husband and I really leaned into staying as active as I could, but also leaning into being vocal about our experience. Especially because men don’t talk about that issue. It is a 50-50 split but in society, we look at it as a women’s health issue.

“This was our final embryo and there was a lot riding on that. It has been whirlwind to say the least.”

Weggemann, 33, is looking at remaining as active as possible in the water after giving birth.

One of the biggest things is knowing that Team USA is supporting female athletes through pregnancy, when it comes to insurance.

“It wasn’t until 2019 that Team USA provided pregnancy support for our athletes,” Mallory Weggemann said. “Before, you if you got pregnant and you couldn’t compete, you could lose your health insurance if you lose your national team status. I am still on the national team and my status is secured because I am on pregnancy support. Never as a female athlete did I think that would be available to me. We have this stigma in society that motherhood is an either-or situation. There is a path forward to do both.”

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