‘I didn’t know who to ask about how it should feel’: postpartum women navigating the return to physically active leisure

ABSTRACT

Access to physically active leisure (PAL) is critical during the postpartum period. However, this period is fraught with drastic transformations to body and mind, altering PAL. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore postpartum women’s experiences as they navigate PAL engagement. Specifically, we sought to understand supports women needed to engage in PAL within the first year postpartum. Twenty-three postpartum women participated in semi-structured interviews, which we then interpreted through narrative analysis. Three major stories emerged through the data: (a) engaging in PAL through the transformations of motherhood, (b) lacking postpartum PAL support, and (c) women supporting themselves and each other. Moreover, our findings uncovered the lacking social and healthcare supports postpartum women receive, and the importance of self-compassion and self-sufficiency in their PAL engagement. Findings can advance academic literature and inform healthcare teams in providing long-term postpartum support to women.

Résumé

L’accès à des loisirs physiquement actifs (LPA) est essentiel pendant la période postnatale. Cependant, cette période est marquée par des transformations radicales du corps et de l’esprit, ce qui modifie l’accès aux LPA. L’objectif de cette étude était donc d’explorer les expériences des femmes en post-partum lorsqu’elles s’engagent dans des activités de LPA. Plus précisément, nous avons cherché à comprendre les soutiens dont les femmes avaient besoin pour participer aux LPA au cours de la première année suivant l’accouchement. Vingt-trois femmes en post-partum ont participé à des entrevues semi-structurées, que nous avons ensuite interprétées au moyen d’une analyse narrative. Trois grandes histoires ont émergé des données : (a) la participation aux LPA au cours des transformations de la maternité, (b) le manque de soutien aux LPA après l’accouchement, et (c) les femmes qui se soutiennent elles-mêmes et les unes les autres. En outre, nos résultats ont mis en évidence le manque de soutien social et médical dont bénéficient les femmes en post-partum, ainsi que l’importance de l’autocompassion et de l’autosuffisance dans leur participation aux LPA. Les résultats peuvent faire avancer la littérature académique et informer les équipes de soins de santé dans la prestation d’un soutien post-partum à long terme aux femmes

KEYWORDS:

• mothers
• qualitative
• self-compassion
• identity
• physical activity

MOTS-CLÉS:

• mères
• qualitatif
• autocompassion
• identité

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Brock University’s Vice President Research Discretionary Fund and Brock University’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Notes on contributors

Talia Ritondo

Talia Ritondo is a doctoral student at the University of Ottawa. She is a master’s graduate from Brock University in Leisure Studies, in which she was affiliated during time of data collection and analysis. Her research focuses on postnatal, physically active leisure, and sport participation through a critical feminist lens. She also works on multiple projects involving volunteer and sport board governance with a gender, family, and identity lens. Her Politics of Hope is to one day eradicate sexism in sport and ensure equitable sport participation for all.

Corliss Bean

Corliss Bean is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. Her research involves working in the community to foster healthy physical and psychosocial development in youth and adult populations.

Iris Lesser

Iris Lesser is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University. She is a certified exercise physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology and a Pre-Post Natal Exercise Specialist. Her research involves finding innovative ways to engage special populations in physical activity with the goal of making physical activity accessible to all.