Baby Steps

A journey of baby steps:
climbing through and beyond
pregnancy

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A person that climbs is a climber. They identify as such. They might also be a school teacher, engineer or banker, but chances are, they’ll lead with the climber part.
However, when female climbers become mums, they often become ‘only’ mums. They lose the climber part of their identity.

A person that climbs is a climber. They identify as such. They might also be a school teacher, engineer or banker, but chances are, they’ll lead with the climber part.
However, when female climbers become mums, they often become ‘only’ mums. They lose the climber part of their identity.

But climber and The North Face athlete, Caroline Ciavaldini, wanted to find another way.

“Society says you’re supposed to forget yourself and just be a mum. Yes, I’m a mum, but I’m also a climber. I wouldn’t be Caroline without either one of them.”

And that’s the focus of her new film, Baby Steps. It’s a personal journey following Caroline in the last few months of her second pregnancy to a few months post-partum. It’s her story, but it’s one she hopes will resonate with other parents.

Climbing Parent

CAROLINE CIAVALDINI

Blessed with strong visions and all-around technical skills, Caroline dedicated her early career to competition climbing. She is now leading an exciting new chapter in her life, travelling the world and sampling the endless diversity climbing has to offer.

TOP 3 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1st in the IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix in 2011

Winner of the Coupe de France Bloc de la Reunion in 2011

2nd in the IFSC Climbing World Cup South Korea in 2011

“People say you should stop all sport while you’re pregnant. That it’s not good for you. But for someone like me, who is already very sporty, you can’t stop without finding it difficult mentally. It’s a part of my identity.”

Caroline says that this film, which also features Caroline’s partner in life, parenting and climbing, James Pearson, is different to their other films because it’s more real, less “happy every after”.

“We are basically the first generation of female climbers who are having babies and want to keep climbing. So, it’s a completely new thing. We want to give tools and solutions by sharing what is hard and what worked for us.”

The “us”’ is the important part. Change doesn’t happen until everyone is onboard. And that includes dads.

“Mums tend to disappear behind the role of mother, in a way that fathers don’t. Maybe this is genetics or maybe it’s society. But we need films showing a new version of parenthood if you want women to be mothers and keep climbing. This is about the mum and the dad having an equal role.”

Aside from the film, Caroline will be sharing tips and exercises for climbing during and just after pregnancy on her and our social channels, so keep a look out for that. Meanwhile, watch the film Baby Steps.