KEY POINTS:
Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson's decision to play in the World Netball Championships while three months pregnant was not dangerous to her baby, say medical experts.
And support has also come from coach Ruth Aitken and a majority of readers at nzherald.co.nz.
Wilson, who is married to former All Black wing and Black Cap Jeff Wilson, played a massive role in the eight-day tournament, taking the court for all six Ferns matches.
The 28-year-old broke the news to teammates after the heartbreaking 38-42 loss to Australia in the final that she was 14 weeks pregnant.
Geoff Bye, a specialist at the Auckland Obstetric Centre, said it was "perfectly safe", as the uterus was still in the pelvis at her period of pregnancy.
"If you fell over, you wouldn't hit the uterus."
He said pregnant athletes could continue to compete early in their pregnancy - provided they were fit enough to do so.
"It's not really a problem until you get to 16-plus weeks ... But she should stop now, though," Dr Bye said.
Dr Alastair Haslam, vice-president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said as long as the mother was fit and there appeared to be no problems, athletes could continue to compete.
"The only risks are of physical injury, but competitive sportsmen at that sort of competitive level are generally acquainted with those sorts of risks. It's just sad they [the Silver Ferns] couldn't win - they tried hard," said Dr Haslam.
Ruth Aitken said she had no qualms about selecting Wilson for the world championships, despite knowing she was pregnant with her first child.
"The timing wasn't quite what I would have liked," the coach told Newstalk ZB, but added that Wilson's health was regularly monitored in the lead-up to the tournament.
"She was absolutely fine. She didn't tell the players or family until after the game because she didn't want anyone to worry," Aitken said.
Wilson's physical conditioner was also not told, the coach said, "so he wouldn't go soft on her".
Netball New Zealand has a three-page document outlining guidelines for players who fall pregnant.
It is designed to protect their right to play while making them acutely aware of the risks involved.
"Netball New Zealand considers that pregnancy is a state of health, not an illness," it states.
The pregnancy issue is nothing new for the Silver Ferns. Squad members Julie Seymour, Sheryl Scanlan and Irene van Dyk all juggle motherhood and playing commitments.
Former shooter Belinda Colling also continued playing while pregnant.
The issue created uproar in Australia in 2001 when netball's national body there tried to ban pregnant women from playing.
Herald reader Gina Meredith was one of a number supporting Wilson's decision.
"The fitter you are in pregnancy the better. Pregnancy is not a disability. "I'm sure Adine is used to this level of fitness. She is a good role model for pregnant women."
Wilson said in a statement: "I've received excellent medical advice and support over the last few months, and it's great now that we are three months on to be able to tell everyone that we are having a baby next year."
- Additional reporting NZPA
