Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is safe for both mother and fetus in the majority of cases, including for women who have undergone in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment; however, this population is likely to face unique barriers to PA. Currently, there is a paucity of research exploring the qualitative experiences and decision-making processes surrounding PA for women who have undergone IVF treatment. Eight women, who had undergone successful IVF treatment and given birth within the last two years, participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of PA during pregnancy. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three super-ordinate themes emerged from the data: ‘experiences of loss and opportunities for hope’, ‘navigating risks and obstacles’, and ‘PA can be a valuable part of pregnancy’. Women’s experiences of PA during pregnancy varied. For some, it was a way to keep hold of their active pre-pregnancy selves, for others PA was experienced as a risk to pregnancy, thus influencing the decision-making process. Limitations of the study are considered, as well as implications for clinical practice and directions for future.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:669144 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Walker, Chloe |
| Publisher | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/13922/ |
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