AFLW star and new mum Daisy Pearce says she ‘lives on the brink of control’ with twins

Daisy Pearce was fearful about returning to AFLW footy as she battled the challenges of bringing up twins, but the former midwife says she’s back in shape and loving her more chaotic new life.

AFLW player Daisy Pearce with her four-month-old twins Sylvie and Roy. Picture: Jason Edwards

AFLW star Daisy Pearce has revealed she has overcome early doubts and is now optimistic about a return to the footy field.

The mum of twins said her “messy, chaotic and joyful” life had left her fearful a return to the footy field was out of reach.

But she’s now back training and believes she’s in good enough shape to pull on a jumper.

“I have gone from being a bit overwhelmed by how much work I had to do and, naturally, having doubts about whether I would be able to do it, to having optimism about where I am going and feeling a bit more like myself physically,” Pearce said.

“I probably could get through a game if I had to run out and play.

“But I am taking a pretty slow approach to getting back. We start full training in November and don’t start playing until February.

“I have got a long way to go and I am being careful.”

Pearce and partner Ben O’Neill welcomed daughter, Sylvie, and son, Roy, four and a half months ago.

She admits life since has been a series of logistical challenges.

“It has been everything I hoped it would be,” Pearce said.

“We feel absolutely blessed to have twins, it has been an absolute joy, but it takes you to places you don’t know exist on an emotional level.

“Sometimes I just laugh because it has taken me two hours to get everyone out of the house,” she said.

“It has taken me longer to get everyone organised to go to training than training actually takes.

Picture: Jason Edwards

“Being a bit of a perfectionist (as an AFLW player) I prided myself on doing everything that the program demanded. Now I am in a position where there are training sessions that just get cut short midway through because Ben rings me as he is in the Club’s feeding room and the babies are screaming and so I just have to completely bail.

“I love to have a plan and I liked to be organised in my former life, but in my new life I feel like I live on the brink of control at all times which I am learning to embrace.”

Pearce has signed on as an ambassador for the Tommee Tippee baby product range and said its helped her prepare for the time she needs away from the twins.

“Planning to go training starts days beforehand. I need to work out how much milk we will need, where I will be able to express, which bottles we need.

“Tommee Tippee has been awesome. They cover all the practical essentials so well like bottles and breast milk pouches that allow you to maximise your time. There is also a white noise (sleeping aid) machine that is amazing. That comes with us everywhere.”

READ MORE:

PEARCE KICKING NEW GOALS AS A MUM

DAISY’S TWINS DECKED IN MELBOURNE KIT

PEARCE SIGNED ON TO PLAY AFLW IN 2020

As a midwife Pearce had no shortage of experience with babies, but admits it did not fully prepare her for the adjustment to motherhood.

“It is completely different being on the other side of the fence” she said.

“I had a lot of people say, ‘you will be right, you are a midwife, you are an expert,’ but we are kind of experts up until about 48 hours afterwards then it is off into the deep end with everyone else.

“It did make me reflect and think I will be different as a midwife with how daunting and confusing the experience can be and how quickly it all moves.”