Maternity in Spanish Elite Sportswomen: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of maternity among Spanish elite sportswomen. Twenty (n = 20) Spanish elite sportswomen with the following criteria were included: (a) aged 18-65 years; (b) had been pregnant during their sporting professional career; and (c) after the end of their pregnancy they had returned to their professional sporting career for at least one year. A qualitative analysis was conducted. Data were collected using in-depth personal interviews, investigator's field notes, and extracts from the participants' personal letters. Identified themes included: (a) a new identity, with two sub-themes ("mother role" and "being visible"); (b) going back to sport, with three subthemes ("guilt appears," "justifying going back to sport," and "rediscovering sport"); and, (c) reaching a goal, with two subthemes ("balancing mother-sportswoman" and "the challenge of maternity"). Understanding the meaning of maternity for elite Spanish sportswomen might help gain deeper insight into their expectations and develop training systems focused on elite sports women after pregnancy.

Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy

“…Previous research has also identified the struggle to manage two sometimes conflicting identities. Martinez-Pascual et al described how elite athletes felt their identity as a mother overtook their identity as a sportswoman and, as a result, many athletes described the guilt about trying to do both 19. Such identities are further compounded by the cultural and societal complexities of media portrayals of elite pregnant athletes 17.…”

“…Martinez-Pascual et al described how elite athletes felt their identity as a mother overtook their identity as a sportswoman and, as a result, many athletes described the guilt about trying to do both. 19 Such identities are further compounded by the cultural and societal complexities of media portrayals of elite pregnant athletes. 17 Most recently, Darroch et al identified the lack of support and uncertainty surrounding pregnancy and governmental funding/corporate sponsorship for elite pregnant athletes.…”

“…However, the experiences of elite female athletes are vastly under-represented. The few studies highlighting the experiences of pregnant or parenting elite female athletes document the uncertainty and stress they face within their careers,18 and how athletes must learn to adopt new roles as ‘mother–woman–sportswoman’ 19. Also, through textual analysis, researchers17 have examined the cultural and societal complexities faced by pregnant elite athletes.…”

“…The few studies highlighting the experiences of pregnant or parenting elite female athletes document the uncertainty and stress they face within their careers, 18 and how athletes must learn to adopt new roles as ‘mother–woman–sportswoman’. 19 Also, through textual analysis, researchers 17 have examined the cultural and societal complexities faced by pregnant elite athletes. Research involving elite female athletes is necessary to support evidence-informed policy regarding sport participation in pregnancy.…”

Triple careers of athletes: exploring the challenges of planning a pregnancy among female elite athletes using semi-structured interviews

“…Some studies have highlighted pregnancy and motherhood as the main reasons why female athletes may end their sportive career or fail to reach their full potential in sports [8,9]. Furthermore, the time required for competition and training as well as potential fears and doubts regarding their sportive future, may leave little time for motherhood [10]. Additionally, medical discourses that have positioned exercise and sport training during pregnancy as dangerous may also in uence an athlete´s decision of planning a pregnancy [11].…”