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.

中文翻译：

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我们不是超人，我们是人：精英运动员产后重返运动经历的定性描述

背景

越来越多的运动员在分娩后重返精英运动。然而，他们在安全和成功地这样做方面面临重大障碍。精英运动员在分娩后重返运动场的经历对于支持循证政策是必要的。

客观的

这种定性描述的目的是描述精英运动员在分娩后重返运动场的经历，并确定可操作的研究、政策和文化变革步骤，以支持精英运动员的母亲。

方法

采访了 18 名主要来自北美的精英运动员，他们在过去 5 年内在分娩后重返运动场。数据是通过一对一的半结构化访谈生成的，这些访谈被录音、逐字转录，并通过内容分析过程进行分析。

结果

这项研究的结果由一个总体主题代表：需要更多时间，以及五个主要主题：(a) 训练产后“新身体”，(b) 受伤和安全重返运动，(c) 训练时母乳喂养，( d) 对重返运动的重要支持，(e) 驾驭母性与运动。运动员们发现迫切需要制定最佳实践政策和资金来支持重返运动，并制定基于证据的重返运动协议以支持安全和无伤害的回归。

结论

运动员分享了详细的故事，重点介绍了精英运动员在分娩后重返精英运动所经历的挑战、障碍和成功。参与者为政策和研究提供了明确的建议，以更好地支持下一代精英运动员母亲。