“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study

Faulkner Maria; Currie Sinéad; Fitzpatrick Ben; Deery Elizabeth

doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study

Faulkner Maria, Currie Sinéad, Fitzpatrick Ben, Deery Elizabeth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy provides maternal and foetal health benefits such as improving mental wellbeing, cardiometabolic and delivery outcomes. However, little is known about pregnant and postpartum individuals’ PA knowledge or guidance and support received during maternity care on the island of Ireland. This study aimed to assess knowledge of PA guidelines and explore experiences of receiving PA guidance and support during maternity care. Methods: Pregnant (≥ 8 weeks gestation, post-initial maternity appointment) or postpartum (birthed and received maternity care within three years previous) adults who received antenatal care on the island of Ireland completed an online survey. Descriptive analysis and frequencies were performed with the principles of thematic analysis applied to the concluding open-text question. Results: Of the 430 women surveyed only 7% (n = 30) correctly stated the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. 28% (n = 120) received PA advice from a healthcare practitioner (HCP) during maternity care. Overall, few felt timely (24%, n = 103) or clear and easy to follow (25%, n = 107) advice was received. 22% (n = 96) felt confident in the advice received and only 17% (n = 74) felt supported to engage in PA. Two themes and seven subthemes relating to women’s experiences of PA guidance and support during pregnancy and future needs were generated. Using study findings, five actionable steps were created. Conclusions: 93% of women surveyed could not accurately state the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. Largely, maternity care delivered on the island of Ireland does not include PA guidance or support. Recommendations are proposed to improve PA guidance and support provided during pregnancy and following childbirth on the island of Ireland.

Original language	English
Article number	625
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	1
Journal	BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Volume	25
Issue number	1
Early online date	28 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7
Publication status	Published online - 28 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Data Access Statement

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to privacy but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Keywords

Postpartum
Postnatal
Sedentary living
Exercise
Maternal health
Lifestyle
Pregnancy
Antenatal
Maternal Health
Sedentary Living
Pregnant People
Humans
Postpartum Period
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Empowerment
Young Adult
Ireland
Adult
Female
Surveys and Questionnaires
Prenatal Care
Exercise/psychology
Postpartum Period/psychology
Pregnant People/psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

12884_2025_Article_7725.pdfFinal published version, 1.53 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

Maria, F., Sinéad, C., Ben, F., & Elizabeth, D. (2025). “ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25(1), 1-11. Article 625. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

Maria, Faulkner ; Sinéad, Currie ; Ben, Fitzpatrick et al. / “ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study. In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2025 ; Vol. 25, No. 1. pp. 1-11.

@article{50aac0c44cd74a7c970f82047faa74a2,

title = "“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women{\textquoteright}s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study",

abstract = "Background: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy provides maternal and foetal health benefits such as improving mental wellbeing, cardiometabolic and delivery outcomes. However, little is known about pregnant and postpartum individuals{\textquoteright} PA knowledge or guidance and support received during maternity care on the island of Ireland. This study aimed to assess knowledge of PA guidelines and explore experiences of receiving PA guidance and support during maternity care. Methods: Pregnant (≥ 8 weeks gestation, post-initial maternity appointment) or postpartum (birthed and received maternity care within three years previous) adults who received antenatal care on the island of Ireland completed an online survey. Descriptive analysis and frequencies were performed with the principles of thematic analysis applied to the concluding open-text question. Results: Of the 430 women surveyed only 7% (n = 30) correctly stated the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. 28% (n = 120) received PA advice from a healthcare practitioner (HCP) during maternity care. Overall, few felt timely (24%, n = 103) or clear and easy to follow (25%, n = 107) advice was received. 22% (n = 96) felt confident in the advice received and only 17% (n = 74) felt supported to engage in PA. Two themes and seven subthemes relating to women{\textquoteright}s experiences of PA guidance and support during pregnancy and future needs were generated. Using study findings, five actionable steps were created. Conclusions: 93% of women surveyed could not accurately state the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. Largely, maternity care delivered on the island of Ireland does not include PA guidance or support. Recommendations are proposed to improve PA guidance and support provided during pregnancy and following childbirth on the island of Ireland.",

keywords = "Postpartum, Postnatal, Sedentary living, Exercise, Maternal health, Lifestyle, Pregnancy, Antenatal, Maternal Health, Sedentary Living, Pregnant People, Humans, Postpartum Period, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Empowerment, Young Adult, Ireland, Adult, Female, Surveys and Questionnaires, Prenatal Care, Exercise/psychology, Postpartum Period/psychology, Pregnant People/psychology",

author = "Faulkner Maria and Currie Sin{\'e}ad and Fitzpatrick Ben and Deery Elizabeth",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

pages = "1--11",

journal = "BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth",

issn = "1471-2393",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

Maria, F, Sinéad, C, Ben, F & Elizabeth, D 2025, '“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 25, no. 1, 625, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study. / Maria, Faulkner; Sinéad, Currie; Ben, Fitzpatrick et al.
In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Vol. 25, No. 1, 625, 28.05.2025, p. 1-11.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - “ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study

AU - Maria, Faulkner

AU - Sinéad, Currie

AU - Ben, Fitzpatrick

AU - Elizabeth, Deery

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/5/28

Y1 - 2025/5/28

N2 - Background: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy provides maternal and foetal health benefits such as improving mental wellbeing, cardiometabolic and delivery outcomes. However, little is known about pregnant and postpartum individuals’ PA knowledge or guidance and support received during maternity care on the island of Ireland. This study aimed to assess knowledge of PA guidelines and explore experiences of receiving PA guidance and support during maternity care. Methods: Pregnant (≥ 8 weeks gestation, post-initial maternity appointment) or postpartum (birthed and received maternity care within three years previous) adults who received antenatal care on the island of Ireland completed an online survey. Descriptive analysis and frequencies were performed with the principles of thematic analysis applied to the concluding open-text question. Results: Of the 430 women surveyed only 7% (n = 30) correctly stated the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. 28% (n = 120) received PA advice from a healthcare practitioner (HCP) during maternity care. Overall, few felt timely (24%, n = 103) or clear and easy to follow (25%, n = 107) advice was received. 22% (n = 96) felt confident in the advice received and only 17% (n = 74) felt supported to engage in PA. Two themes and seven subthemes relating to women’s experiences of PA guidance and support during pregnancy and future needs were generated. Using study findings, five actionable steps were created. Conclusions: 93% of women surveyed could not accurately state the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. Largely, maternity care delivered on the island of Ireland does not include PA guidance or support. Recommendations are proposed to improve PA guidance and support provided during pregnancy and following childbirth on the island of Ireland.

AB - Background: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy provides maternal and foetal health benefits such as improving mental wellbeing, cardiometabolic and delivery outcomes. However, little is known about pregnant and postpartum individuals’ PA knowledge or guidance and support received during maternity care on the island of Ireland. This study aimed to assess knowledge of PA guidelines and explore experiences of receiving PA guidance and support during maternity care. Methods: Pregnant (≥ 8 weeks gestation, post-initial maternity appointment) or postpartum (birthed and received maternity care within three years previous) adults who received antenatal care on the island of Ireland completed an online survey. Descriptive analysis and frequencies were performed with the principles of thematic analysis applied to the concluding open-text question. Results: Of the 430 women surveyed only 7% (n = 30) correctly stated the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. 28% (n = 120) received PA advice from a healthcare practitioner (HCP) during maternity care. Overall, few felt timely (24%, n = 103) or clear and easy to follow (25%, n = 107) advice was received. 22% (n = 96) felt confident in the advice received and only 17% (n = 74) felt supported to engage in PA. Two themes and seven subthemes relating to women’s experiences of PA guidance and support during pregnancy and future needs were generated. Using study findings, five actionable steps were created. Conclusions: 93% of women surveyed could not accurately state the PA guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum. Largely, maternity care delivered on the island of Ireland does not include PA guidance or support. Recommendations are proposed to improve PA guidance and support provided during pregnancy and following childbirth on the island of Ireland.

KW - Postpartum

KW - Postnatal

KW - Sedentary living

KW - Exercise

KW - Maternal health

KW - Lifestyle

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Antenatal

KW - Maternal Health

KW - Sedentary Living

KW - Pregnant People

KW - Humans

KW - Postpartum Period

KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

KW - Empowerment

KW - Young Adult

KW - Ireland

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Prenatal Care

KW - Exercise/psychology

KW - Postpartum Period/psychology

KW - Pregnant People/psychology

UR - https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/50aac0c4-4cd7-4a7c-970f-82047faa74a2

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105006744150&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-025-07791-x

U2 - 10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

DO - 10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 40437423

SN - 1471-2393

VL - 25

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

JF - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

IS - 1

M1 - 625

ER -

Maria F, Sinéad C, Ben F , Elizabeth D. “ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2025 May 28;25(1):1-11. 625. Epub 2025 May 28. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07725-7

“ We need more guidance, more encouragement and empowerment for what our bodies are capable of ”, pregnant and postpartum women’s knowledge and experiences of receiving physical activity guidance and support on the island of Ireland: an online survey study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Access Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this