But it is not very common for a new mother to take the court – at the top level for their club – just one month after giving birth. But that is exactly what Navarre’s Jess Parry did.

The 26-year-old took to the court for the Grasshoppers in their round six A Grade game against Maldon on May 26, just one month and 3 days after giving birth to her first child Charlie.

“I actually felt really good coming back so soon after having Charlie,” Parry said.

“Charlie was born on April 23 so there wasn’t really too much time between having him and playing again.

“My head was telling my body to do things it probably wasn’t ready to do but I didn’t pull up sore from it much at all.”

The two-time Nalder Tracey medal winner for the Maryborough Castlemaine District Netball League’s A Grade best and fairest lives in Balranald on the New South Wales side of the Victorian border.

Parry said she intends to continue to make her way down to Navarre for games throughout the season.

“Now I have Charlies I always want to get home as much as I can to see family, and netball ties in well with that,” she said.

“I spoke to Krystal (A Grade coach) before the season and said I was more than happy to help whenever I can if there was a spot for me. I would have been happy watching and supporting but it is great to be back out on the court too.”

Parry was part of Navarre’s super team which won four consecutive A Grade premierships between 2013 and 2016.

She has played two matches for the Grasshoppers in 2018.

While the side has changed significantly since the premiership days she said she is just as excited to be taking to the court with a new-look side.

“I have found it really exciting to be playing alongside some young faces who are the future of the club,” she said.

“There are also some familiar faces like Sophie Flood and meg Newton too. I also used to watch Krystal Browne dominate when I was younger so to see her back running around again is fantastic.”

Parry said she has adjusted well to the new lifestyle of being a mother, with Charlie now six weeks old.

“He is a pretty cruisy baby," she said.

“We obviously have some challenges every now and then but I have some great support around me and I just love it.”

The Grasshoppers are sitting in the top eight of the MCDNL and Parry said she has confidence the young Navarre side can go well this season.

“It is a great group of girls and Krystal is doing a great job coaching them,” she said.

“The girls have been so supportive and patient with me coming back which has been amazing.”