In search of the 'like-minded' people: pregnant women's sense-making of their physical activity-related social experiences.

Abstract

Aims/background: Social factors are increasingly recognised as influential on antenatal physical activity. While pregnant women describe the people and support they require to remain physically active, little is known about how pregnant women select and make sense of their social experiences throughout pregnancy. This study followed pregnant women's sense-making of their physical activity-related social experiences as pregnancy progressed, and physical activity declined.

Design/methods: This study used a qualitative design. Four pregnant women were recruited in their second trimester, participated in three individual semi-structured interviews and submitted diary entries throughout trimesters two and three. Data were analysed using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results: To facilitate physical activity, pregnant women were 'searching for the "like-minded" people who motivate, share and understand', namely pregnant women and prenatally trained exercise professionals. When making sense of social experiences, pregnant women were 'grading and critiquing the quality and paucity of "active pregnancy" information', and'cherry-picking social experiences necessary for "nesting", obtaining support and protecting self-esteem as physical activity declined'. This involved disengaging from social experiences, and consequently, some pregnant women found themselves 'lamenting interactions with the "like-minded" people, contending with grief and inner conflict'.

Conclusion: Pregnant women proactively seek and make sense of social experiences to facilitate physical activity. In an increasingly digitalised society, interventions should support pregnant women to utilise social media constructively and safely to access 'like-minded' people, provide in-person and virtual networks to meet individual support needs throughout pregnancy and encourage health professionals to demonstrate interest in the 'active pregnancy' to maximise influence.