Getting ready for training used to be relatively simple for Australian long jumper Brooke Buschkuehl.
Now, as a new mum to Bobby, leaving the house involves more than checking her shoes, training gear and water bottle. It can also mean timing feeds, expressing milk, packing pumping equipment and making sure Bobby has what he needs while she is away.
That additional planning will feel familiar to many breastfeeding mums returning to work, exercise or any routine that takes them away from their baby.
Motherhood hasn’t stopped Brooke’s dream of competing at the highest level. It has simply added a few more steps to the routine.
Quick answer
Australian long jumper Brooke Buschkuehl has returned to elite competition after welcoming her son, Bobby. Breastfeeding and expressing now sit alongside training, recovery and travel in her routine. Her experience shows that returning to something you love after having a baby is possible, but it often requires flexibility, preparation and a strong support system.
How did Brooke return to elite sport after having Bobby?
Brooke is an Australian record holder, three-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
After having Bobby, however, returning to long jump was not a story of instantly picking up where she left off. It was a gradual process of rebuilding strength, returning to training and learning how motherhood would fit alongside elite sport.
Brooke returned to training only weeks after giving birth, but her early sessions looked very different from the training she had been used to. Her journey back required patience, physical recovery and an understanding that progress would not always be straightforward.
Now, while competing at the Commonwealth Games during World Breastfeeding Week, Brooke is pursuing the same sporting goals she had before becoming a mum - with a completely new routine happening behind the scenes.
Her story is not about “getting her old body back” or proving how quickly a mum can return after birth.
It is about continuing to work towards something that matters to her while adapting to the realities of caring for and feeding a baby.
How does Brooke manage breastfeeding around training and travel?
As Brooke shared on Instagram, getting to training now involves planning feeds and expressing milk before she leaves.
She may express before training, again afterwards and at other times depending on how long she will be away from Bobby. Travelling to competitions adds another layer, with pumping equipment, milk storage and cleaning all becoming part of the packing list.
Brooke’s experience reflects what many mums discover when returning to work, exercise or time away from their baby: expressing is rarely just the few minutes spent using a pump.
There is also the planning around when to pump, where to do it, how to store the milk and when the pump parts can be properly cleaned.
Every routine will look different. Some mums may feed immediately before leaving home. Others may need to express during the day or pump after returning. The routine may also change depending on the baby’s age, feeding patterns and how the parent’s body responds.
The important part is having enough support and flexibility to work out what is manageable for that individual family.
Embed Brooke’s Instagram reel here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWDvxxNB634/
Where the Bubka Glow fits into Brooke’s routine
Brooke uses the Bubka Glow wearable breast pump to help make expressing around training and travel more manageable.
Because the Glow is cordless and wearable, it can give her greater flexibility when she needs to express away from home or fit pumping into an already busy schedule.
That does not mean a wearable pump removes all the work involved. Brooke still needs to plan her sessions, store expressed milk safely, clean her equipment and make time for her body to recover from both training and motherhood.
A pump is only one part of the support system.
For mums who also need to express around work, appointments or travel, the Bubka Glow Double Wearable Breast Pump Kit includes multiple flange sizes and is designed for hands-free pumping without setting up a traditional wall pump.
The Bubka Breast Pump Wipes may also help with practical clean-up when you are away from home until your parts can be properly washed according to the pump’s cleaning instructions. If you want more information about cleaning on the go, check out How to Clean Pump Parts on the go.
When to get extra support from an IBCLC or health professional
Returning to training or exercise while breastfeeding does not need to follow one particular timeline.
Your recovery, birth experience, feeding journey and individual health can all affect when and how you feel ready to begin exercising again. It is important to follow personalised guidance from your GP, physiotherapist, maternal child health nurse or another qualified health professional.
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant can also help if you are experiencing persistent pain, having difficulty expressing, worried about milk supply or unsure how to plan feeds and pumping sessions around periods away from your baby.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association provides further evidence-based information about breastfeeding, expressing and returning to work or other regular activities.
As Brooke’s journey shows, support matters. No mum should be expected to manage feeding, recovery, work, exercise, travel and family life entirely on her own.
Frequently asked questions
Can I exercise while breastfeeding?
Many mums exercise while breastfeeding, but the right time and type of activity will depend on your recovery and individual health. Seek personalised guidance before returning to intense or high-impact exercise after birth.
Should I breastfeed or express before exercising?
Some mums find feeding or expressing before exercise more comfortable, particularly if their breasts feel full. The best timing will depend on your baby’s routine, your comfort and how long you will be away. We have a great blog all about exercise in postpartum HERE.
Can exercising reduce my milk supply?
Exercise does not automatically reduce milk supply. Milk production can be influenced by many factors, including how regularly and effectively milk is removed, feeding frequency and individual circumstances.
How do athletes store expressed milk while travelling?
Expressed milk must be stored safely and kept at an appropriate temperature. Travel plans may include an insulated cooler, ice bricks and access to refrigeration. Follow current Australian guidance for expressing, storing and transporting breast milk.
Can a wearable breast pump help when returning to exercise or work?
A wearable pump may offer greater flexibility because it can be used without connecting to a wall pump. However, mums still need enough time, privacy and workplace or training support to express comfortably.
Does Brooke Buschkuehl use a Bubka breast pump?
Brooke has shared that she uses the Bubka Glow wearable breast pump as part of her expressing routine around training and travel. This article does not imply that Bubka sponsors Brooke or the Commonwealth Games.
Every mum deserves support to keep doing what matters to her
Brooke’s story is extraordinary because she is competing at an elite level, but the planning behind it will feel familiar to mums returning to many different parts of their lives.
For one mum, that might mean returning to the office. For another, it might mean going to the gym, attending university, seeing friends or simply leaving the house alone for a few hours.
Every feeding journey is different. Continuing to breastfeed, exclusively expressing, combination feeding or changing your original plans are all deeply personal experiences.
What mums need is not pressure to do more. They need practical tools, reliable information and people who support them in continuing to do the things that matter to them.
Explore the Bubka pumping, milk storage and cleaning range, or visit our World Breastfeeding Month hub for more practical pumping and lactation support.
