Bumps and bicycles: Women's experience of cycle-commuting during pregnancy

- Wide seats, step-through frames, and an upright positioning may increase pregnant women's comfort on the bicycle.
- In some cases, bicycling helped women cope with nausea and was considered less tiring than walking.
- Social support factored into women's decisions of whether to cycle-commute into later pregnancy.
- Medical advice was generally felt to be non-committal, or a potential deterrent.

Introductiondespite the known health benefits of physical activity during pregnancy and national efforts to promote active travel, pregnant women face obstacles to continued bicycling. This study explores women's experiences of cycle-commuting in the context of pregnancy.Methodsthree individual interviews were conducted, and three focus group discussions: with a group of women who had stopped cycling early, a group that had carried on into later pregnancy, and a mixed group. All were recorded and transcribed. Line-by-line thematic, discursive and conversational analysis of transcripts led to the development of five principal themes: 'the body', 'reasons to continue or desist', 'changes in cycling practice to minimise risk, 'medical advice' and 'perceptions of others'.Findingstype of bicycle, physical comfort on the bike and the degree of social support factored into women's decisions to renounce or continue cycling. Ongoing experiences were shaped by the nature of medical advice and the ways in which women perceived and managed concepts of risk.Conclusionthis study identified obstacles and benefits to continued cycle-commuting. The findings can be used to support informed decision-making during pregnancy. Meanwhile, safe cycling infrastructure should remain an overarching goal.