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We’re not Superhuman, We’re Human: A Qualitative Description of Elite Athletes’ Experiences of Return to Sport After Childbirth

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  • International Olympic Committee
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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 5 years were interviewed. Data were generated via one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed 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) Critical 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.
Vol.:(0123456789)
Sports Medicine (2023) 53:269–279
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01730-y
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Were notSuperhuman, We’re Human: AQualitative Description
ofElite Athletes’ Experiences ofReturn toSport After Childbirth
MargieH.Davenport1 · LaurenRay2· AutumnNesdoly2· JaneThornton3,4· RshmiKhurana5,6·
Tara‑LeighF.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
5years 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 forPregnancy andPostpartum Health, Physical
Activity andDiabetes Laboratory, Faculty ofKinesiology,
Sport andRecreation, Women andChildren’s Health
Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University
ofAlberta, 1-059 D Li Ka Shing Centre forHealth Research
Innovation, 8602-112 St, Edmonton, ABT6G2E1, Canada
2 Faculty ofKinesiology, Sport andRecreation, University
ofAlberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
3 Department ofFamily Medicine, Fowler Kennedy Sports
Medicine Clinic, Western University, London, ON, Canada
4 Department ofEpidemiology, andBiostatistics, Schulich
School ofMedicine andDentistry, Western University,
London, ON, Canada
5 Department ofMedicine, Women andChildren’s Health
Research Institute, University ofAlberta, Edmonton, AB,
Canada
6 Department ofObstetrics andGynecology, Women
andChildren’s Health Research Institute, University
ofAlberta, 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.
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... After pregnancy, some athletes describe feeling a greater motivation and desire to train. Davenport et al. (2023) Qualitative study based on semistructured interviews n=18 (elite athletes with a mean age of 35± 5 years) ...
... After analysing the interviews, Dietz et al. (2022), identified that in addition to adequate pregnancy planning, women required much support from family members, coaches, clubs, and financial entities for the pregnancy to unfold in the best conditions, providing the athlete with the necessary security to face motherhood. In this way, a positive environment is essential for women athletes: one that helps them to overcome the difficulties linked both to motherhood and to their professional training, making it possible not to have to sacrifice their sports life (Viana-Meireles et al., 2024;Davenport et al., 2023). Despite this, most studies revealed that both the mother and baby lacked personal and financial support. ...
... For all these reasons, women were found to experience fear and insecurity regarding pregnancy during a sports career, both financially and in terms of performance (Martínez-Pascual et al., 2017). Moreover, the study by Davenport et al. (2023) showed that social stereotypes, in addition to putting pressure, forced them to return to sport prematurely in order to receive funding, which could increase injury risk. ...
Article
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Elite sports and motherhood present unique challenges for women athletes. Despite the increasing participation of women in sports, there is a significant lack of research on the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This gap leads to confusion and anxiety about how to manage training and performance while considering motherhood. For elite women athletes, the decision to become a mother or plan a pregnancy can be especially difficult. Developing strategies and support systems that allow athletes to make this decision without negatively affecting their sports careers would be highly beneficial. However, it is first necessary to identify and understand the obstacles or barriers that affect both the decision to have a child and the course of the pregnancy itself. The objective of this review is to analyse qualitative studies that examine the experiences, challenges, and perspectives of elite women athletes regarding pregnancy. The review followed the Metaethnographic method developed by Noblit and Hare (1988), which involves a systematic analysis of qualitative research. The final search included only articles published in English and Spanish within the last ten years. The selected studies revealed that the main concerns for athletes include the fear of losing contracts and funding, uncertainty about training protocols, and lack of institutional support. Many athletes also reported feeling abandoned during pregnancy, exacerbating their stress. While some sports federations have begun implementing maternity leave policies, these are not universally applied, leading to disparities across different sports. The findings highlight the need for more comprehensive support systems for athletes who wish to become mothers. The importance of role models and research to guide athletes in decision-making processes is also emphasized. Legislative measures are essential to address discrimination and ensure that athletes can pursue motherhood without jeopardizing their careers. Finally, this review concludes that further research is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines and policies that support athletes in balancing their dual roles as mothers and elite competitors.
... 7 In recent times, there has been a shift in media and societal discourses concerning motherhood in elite sports which has encouraged some governing bodies to offer structural and systemic support to mothering athletes. 8,9 Organizations, such as the World Tennis Association 10 and the Professional Triathletes Organization, 11 have implemented maternity leave policies to prevent postpartum athletes from facing penalties when re-entering elite competitions. However, the implementation of structural and policy changes to support elite mothering athletes in the realm of competitive running remains less apparent, as highlighted by Davenport et al. 12 World Athletics, 13 the governing body for track and field, lacks any formal maternity leave policies or supportive measures for female athletes looking to return to elite competition after childbirth. ...
... 4,7,12 However, many of these studies primarily focus on athletes from Western, English-speaking nations. 8,14 To date, the literature on mothering athletes appears to be limited to participants from twelve predominately Western nations, and most studies focus on athletes from just one or two countries. 14 Existing literature has been limited in its geographical scope; this study aimed to empower athletes from a diverse range of countries to articulate their distinct needs for change. ...
... 14 Existing literature has been limited in its geographical scope; this study aimed to empower athletes from a diverse range of countries to articulate their distinct needs for change. 8,14 The inclusion of elite runners in this study is justified by their dependence on individual sponsors, government funding, and endorsements for income. This study uniquely positions itself to explore the experiences of elite runners throughout pregnancy and postpartum with athletes from a diverse range of countries. ...
Article
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Objectives Female athletes who experience childbirth during their athletic careers can expect to return to elite sports postpartum and perform at a comparable or improved level. However, mothering athletes often encounter significant barriers when re-entering elite sports. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of a geographically diverse group of mothering athletes who returned to elite sports after childbirth. Design Qualitative phenomenological research design using semi-structured interviews. Methods In-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted with nineteen mothering elite running athletes hailing from fourteen different countries. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Findings were generated into five main themes: (1) Deciding to become a mother, (2) revealing pregnancy to stakeholders, (3) experience of pregnancy, (4) combining motherhood and elite running, and (5) improvement strategies to support athlete mothers. The findings revealed that participants experienced stress regarding their pregnancy announcements due to concerns about potential repercussions on their careers. These concerns included the impact on sponsorship deals, relationships with governing bodies, and interactions with their coaches. Participants felt their elite coaches and health practitioners had insufficient education to support them throughout their pregnancies and postpartum return to elite running. Finally, athletes express a sense of diminished pressure and increased motivation in races upon resuming their elite careers, attributing their improved athletic performance postpartum to their shift in focus from themselves to their child. Conclusions This study illuminates challenges and offers valuable insights to coaches, sponsors, health practitioners, exercise professionals, researchers, race organizers, and governing athletic bodies in better supporting mothering athletes.
... Motherhood experiences (ME) have unique challenges for female athletes, as highlighted in the article "Pushing for change" [8] where 25 athletes were interviewed. In a similar article, 'We are not superhuman, we're human' [9], 18 athletes were interviewed [9]. Some concerns raised by these athletes included 'training a new body' postpartum; safe return to training; breastfeeding and exercise; and managing time between sports and motherhood. ...
... Motherhood experiences (ME) have unique challenges for female athletes, as highlighted in the article "Pushing for change" [8] where 25 athletes were interviewed. In a similar article, 'We are not superhuman, we're human' [9], 18 athletes were interviewed [9]. Some concerns raised by these athletes included 'training a new body' postpartum; safe return to training; breastfeeding and exercise; and managing time between sports and motherhood. ...
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The aim of this paper is to explore the gynaecological health patterns, contraceptive use, body perception, and motherhood experiences of female professional football players. The participants were recruited via email using FIFPRO (Football Players Worldwide). Online questionnaires were completed by consenting participants. The mean age at menarche was 13.5 years with an average cycle length of 26 days, and a bleeding period of 5 days. Cycle irregularities were experienced by 30%, and menstrual symptoms by 74%. Half of the participants used contraceptives, 60% using hormonal contraceptives, primarily oral contraceptive pills (38%), followed by implants (20%). The body satisfaction score was normal but there was a high drive-for-thinness (DT) score. The motherhood rate was low (1%), with participants experiencing normal conception, vaginal delivery, return to training after 6 weeks, and return to competition after 12 weeks. Our findings are consistent with findings in other elite female athletes with cycle irregularities and a significant number of cycle-related symptoms. The majority of those using contraceptives preferred hormonal contraceptives, reflecting trends seen in other elite athletes. While body satisfaction scores were normal, there was a high DT score, similar to that observed in lean and weight-category sports. The motherhood rate was low, consistent with previous findings in professional football players and other elite athletes. This may be due to a lack of financial support during pregnancy and the post-partum period. FIFPRO and its affiliated unions are negotiating better contracts for female football players.
... Even for those who are at the pinnacle of their sport, the complexities of balancing their careers with their parental responsibilities are significant. While fatherhood is encouraged for athletes (Rasera 2016), balancing career and motherhood proves difficult for female athletes (Martinez-Pascual et al. 2014), who face a number of obstacles, including pressure from sponsors and clubs to return to competition quickly after pregnancy, the associated risk of injury when they can afford sufficient time to recover after delivery, and a lack of childcare solutions (Davenport et al. 2022). A survey of French elite sportswomen shows that 69% of them consider motherhood to be a risk during their athletic career, citing organizational difficulties, weight gain and the fear of not being able to return to the top level . ...
... 5 As Cosh and Crabb (2012) point out, these barriers to motherhood are often presented in the media as individual factors, when in fact they are markedly structural. on personal support networks, in particular to organize childcare for their children (Davenport et al. 2022). 6 These difficulties are not without consequences for the decision, if not to give up motherhood, at least to postpone it, or even to opt for a short career. ...
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Female elite athletes are less likely than male elite athletes to have children during their careers, in part because of the difficulty of balancing motherhood and elite sports. Does this childlessness gap disappear or persist in the post-career period? What factors determine the childlessness of former athletes? The article presents the results of a quantitative cross-sectional study of 1255 former elite athletes who participated in at least one national competition in their discipline and reside in Switzerland. The results indicate that women are more likely than men to remain childless in the post-career years, and that they are also more likely than women in the general population to remain childless. The analyses point to the importance of the gendered orientation of sport socialization (for instance, essentialist representations, valorization of masculinity) in understanding ex-athletes’ relationship to parenthood and in explaining their childlessness. Examining the phenomenon of childlessness reveals that socialization of athletes in gendered sport leaves traces on their representations and practices that are visible even after their careers have ended. In particular, women who have experienced the most inverted gender socialization by playing a male sport have the highest rate of childlessness.
... Training and competition during pregnancy can pose risks to both mother and baby, necessitating a temporary pause for many athletes. Postpartum, the lack of adequate social support and childcare often leads to extended breaks or even retirement from sport (21). Although certain provisions exist pertaining to legal maternity leave, they often fall short of meeting the needs of athlete mothers. ...
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... For instance, if local sport organizations were to offer flexibility with game participation or having additional players on a team to allow others to come off and nurse for a period of time, more mothers may feel capable of reengaging. While there is currently no research in this space with nonelite athlete mothers, elite athletes who are returning to training and competition postpartum have commented on the need for flexibility and support from coaches and staff when nursing (Davenport et al., 2023). The same should also apply at a community sport level. ...
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