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Vol.:(0123456789)
Sports Medicine (2023) 53:269–279
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01730-y
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
We’re notSuperhuman, We’re Human: AQualitative Description
ofElite Athletes’ Experiences ofReturn toSport After Childbirth
MargieH.Davenport1 · LaurenRay2· AutumnNesdoly2· JaneThornton3,4· RshmiKhurana5,6·
Tara‑LeighF.McHugh2
Accepted: 20 June 2022 / Published online: 28 July 2022
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
Abstract
Background A growing number of athletes return to elite sport following childbirth. Yet, they face significant barriers to do
so safely and successfully. The experiences of elite athletes returning to sport following delivery are necessary to support
evidence-informed policy.
Objective The purpose of this qualitative description was to describe the experiences of elite athletes as they returned to sport
following childbirth, and to identify actionable steps for research, policy and culture-change to support elite athlete mothers.
Methods Eighteen elite athletes, primarily from North America, who had returned to sport following childbirth in the last
5years were interviewed. Data were generated via one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, tran-
scribed verbatim, and analyzed through a process of content analysis.
Results The findings of this study are represented by one overarching theme: Need for More Time, and five main themes:
(a) Training “New Bodies” Postpartum, (b) Injuries and Safe Return to Sport, (c) Breastfeeding While Training, (d)Criti-
cal Supports for Return to Sport, (e) Navigating Motherhood and Sport. The athletes identified the urgent need to develop
best-practice policies and funding to support return to sport, as well as develop evidence-based return-to-sport protocols to
support a safe and injury-free return.
Conclusion Athletes shared detailed stories highlighting the challenges, barriers and successes elite athletes experience
returning to elite-level sport following childbirth. Participants provided clear recommendations for policy and research to
better support the next generation of elite athlete mothers.
* Margie H. Davenport
margie.davenport@ualberta.ca
1 Program forPregnancy andPostpartum Health, Physical
Activity andDiabetes Laboratory, Faculty ofKinesiology,
Sport andRecreation, Women andChildren’s Health
Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University
ofAlberta, 1-059 D Li Ka Shing Centre forHealth Research
Innovation, 8602-112 St, Edmonton, ABT6G2E1, Canada
2 Faculty ofKinesiology, Sport andRecreation, University
ofAlberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
3 Department ofFamily Medicine, Fowler Kennedy Sports
Medicine Clinic, Western University, London, ON, Canada
4 Department ofEpidemiology, andBiostatistics, Schulich
School ofMedicine andDentistry, Western University,
London, ON, Canada
5 Department ofMedicine, Women andChildren’s Health
Research Institute, University ofAlberta, Edmonton, AB,
Canada
6 Department ofObstetrics andGynecology, Women
andChildren’s Health Research Institute, University
ofAlberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Key Points
There are limited supports for female elite athletes to
return to sport following pregnancy.
Interviews with female elite athletes identified a wide
range of barriers that limit return to high-level sport
following childbirth. This study outlines key action-
able steps, including policy recommendations that can
be implemented by sporting organizations to support
postpartum athletes.
Research supporting the development and implemen-
tation of evidence-based best practice return to sport
protocols following childbirth will optimize a safe and
injury-free return to sport.
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