'Beyond the Bump': an online wellbeing and lifestyle pilot program during COVID-19 for first year postpartum mothers: a research article
'Beyond the Bump': an online wellbeing and lifestyle pilot program during COVID-19 for first year postpartum mothers: a research article
BACKGROUND: Establishing a healthy lifestyle post-delivery is pivotal to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, access to postpartum health programs has been increasingly difficult. The aim of this study was to inform, develop and evaluate Beyond the Bump (BtB); an online program to improve access to health and wellbeing education and support for physical activity in the postpartum.
METHODS: A three-phase mixed-methods design of a 10-week Australia-wide online pilot program during COVID-19 with women less than 1 year postpartum and their primary care health professionals was utilised. Phase-one: needs assessment focus groups and interviews. Phase-two: BtB program implementation pre-post health measures survey, attendance and engagement with the program. Phase-three: program evaluation with feedback surveys and interviews.
RESULTS: Women (n = 12) and health professionals (n = 16) expressed strong need for a postpartum program with access to education from experts on exercise, pelvic floor, sleep and baby nutrition. Despite BtB being developed from women's suggestions (including time-of-day 'morning'), attendance to all ten sessions was poor (of 162 registrations; 23% participated in the first session and 5% in the last session). Barriers to attendance included 'too busy',' forgot' and 'topic not relevant for age of child'. 88% of women reported the education as the most enjoyable component of the program. 100% (n = 26) of women interviewed would recommend the program to a friend.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a continuing need for postpartum support. Online programs with access to expert education and exercise were reported to be of significant interest and value. However, more research is needed to improve the uptake and value placed on mothers' wellbeing and physical activity.
Community, Exercise, Health, Mental Health, Postnatal
Christie, Hannah E
ec2e1063-3939-496c-a735-d0cedee4f6b9
Roach, Lauren A
51611ba2-fee1-44e8-ac27-014156b65f60
Kennedy, Meredith
550dc9ec-2dd8-47b3-ad0a-3391b4f25e37
Beetham, Kassia
42c8d86b-10b4-4006-a0e1-25382662e8b2
Meyer, Barbara J
7cbc42c0-3387-4bab-a37f-d305fdc8f20a
Schoenaker, Danielle
84b96b87-4070-45a5-9777-5a1e4e45e818
Francois, Monique
01e10eb9-e92a-4f1a-826b-082bfd6049fb
25 July 2022
Christie, Hannah E
ec2e1063-3939-496c-a735-d0cedee4f6b9
Roach, Lauren A
51611ba2-fee1-44e8-ac27-014156b65f60
Kennedy, Meredith
550dc9ec-2dd8-47b3-ad0a-3391b4f25e37
Beetham, Kassia
42c8d86b-10b4-4006-a0e1-25382662e8b2
Meyer, Barbara J
7cbc42c0-3387-4bab-a37f-d305fdc8f20a
Schoenaker, Danielle
84b96b87-4070-45a5-9777-5a1e4e45e818
Francois, Monique
01e10eb9-e92a-4f1a-826b-082bfd6049fb
Christie, Hannah E, Roach, Lauren A, Kennedy, Meredith, Beetham, Kassia, Meyer, Barbara J, Schoenaker, Danielle and Francois, Monique
(2022)
'Beyond the Bump': an online wellbeing and lifestyle pilot program during COVID-19 for first year postpartum mothers: a research article.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22 (1), [591].
(doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04913-7).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Establishing a healthy lifestyle post-delivery is pivotal to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, access to postpartum health programs has been increasingly difficult. The aim of this study was to inform, develop and evaluate Beyond the Bump (BtB); an online program to improve access to health and wellbeing education and support for physical activity in the postpartum.
METHODS: A three-phase mixed-methods design of a 10-week Australia-wide online pilot program during COVID-19 with women less than 1 year postpartum and their primary care health professionals was utilised. Phase-one: needs assessment focus groups and interviews. Phase-two: BtB program implementation pre-post health measures survey, attendance and engagement with the program. Phase-three: program evaluation with feedback surveys and interviews.
RESULTS: Women (n = 12) and health professionals (n = 16) expressed strong need for a postpartum program with access to education from experts on exercise, pelvic floor, sleep and baby nutrition. Despite BtB being developed from women's suggestions (including time-of-day 'morning'), attendance to all ten sessions was poor (of 162 registrations; 23% participated in the first session and 5% in the last session). Barriers to attendance included 'too busy',' forgot' and 'topic not relevant for age of child'. 88% of women reported the education as the most enjoyable component of the program. 100% (n = 26) of women interviewed would recommend the program to a friend.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a continuing need for postpartum support. Online programs with access to expert education and exercise were reported to be of significant interest and value. However, more research is needed to improve the uptake and value placed on mothers' wellbeing and physical activity.
Text
s12884-022-04913-7
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 6 July 2022
Published date: 25 July 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
Thank you to all of the women who tuned into Beyond the Bump, filled out surveys, participated in focus groups and took the time to have a phone call with us. Thank you to the health professionals across the world who took time out of their days to speak in our program. Thanks Kate Brett, Lizzie Jack, and Emily O’Keefe of the IHMRI communication team who helped with the technical side of creating this program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Community, Exercise, Health, Mental Health, Postnatal
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 468893
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/468893
ISSN: 1471-2393
PURE UUID: 22b2d55c-ccff-4956-b8b5-a36f9a81ca4b
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 31 Aug 2022 16:53
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:01
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Hannah E Christie
Author:
Lauren A Roach
Author:
Meredith Kennedy
Author:
Kassia Beetham
Author:
Barbara J Meyer
Author:
Monique Francois
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
