Abstract
Postpartum is a transformative and challenging period marked by significant physiological, emotional, and psychosocial changes. Extensive research supports the benefits of physical activity (PA) for physical recovery and psychological well-being among new mothers, yet many face barriers including time constraints, fatigue, lack of childcare, and financial limitations - challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent social and economic pressures. YMCA Northumberland’s Mothers of Newborns (MON) health and wellness program aims to address some of these challenges by offering free YMCA facility access, flexible fitness programming, childcare, and community support to new mothers. This research explores the experiences of women within the YMCA MON program, guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Becoming a Mother (BAM) framework. Current and past MON program participants engaged in a semi-structured virtual interview exploring their experiences. Findings highlight mothers’ shared positive experiences, with mothers emphasizing the program’s role in helping them overcome common postpartum challenges. Key themes emerged in the areas of reclaiming identity (i.e., reconnecting with and prioritizing themselves beyond their caregiving role), building community (i.e., fostering connection, emotional support, and belonging, rather than isolation), and sustaining physical health (i.e., regaining confidence in their bodies and maintaining PA routines). Collectively, findings highlight the role of MON programming in supporting mothers' psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, relatedness; SDT) and evolving maternal identities (i.e., navigating role changes, developing a maternal self-concept, rebuilding social supports and connections; BAM), signaling the value of expanding programs to other YMCAs/communities to better support postpartum well-being across diverse settings.
