| BARRIERS |
STATEMENTS |
| Type of movement and effort level |
“I think that’s too much effort! I believe it’s too much! Maybe if you take it slow (...) but I am not sure. The legs bend a lot. It demands strength” (C., 31 years old, decreased physical activity, high schooling). “Before leaving [doctor’s appointment] I asked: I miss riding my bike, could I get back on my bike? [the reply was]) - ‘If everything is ok with your pregnancy and nothing hurts, don’t change anything. Do not ride (...)’ [and the doctor concluded] ‘you’d better not risk it”. If it depended on me, I would keep riding” (J., 26 years, stopped physical cativity, high schooling). |
| Miscarriage |
“I used to walk; I didn’t know I could not ride a bike. ‘ − What did she [neighbor] say?’. She lost her first baby when riding a bike. My boyfriend’s cousin lost her baby riding a motorcycle. ‘- Why, did she crash?’. I don’t know, I didn’t ask her! My neighbor also said that because she was cycling constantly, I think she hit here [pelvic area] and lost the baby. ‘ − And did you stop cycling?’. Yes (...) I was afraid (...) Sometimes I think it is not true, a myth, but I’d rather not risk!” (J., 17 years, remained active, low schooling). |
| Bumping/Shaking |
“I am afraid of the impact from the bike saddle ‘- Could that harm you or the baby?’. Disturbing, moving, misplacing something here inside! When we are pregnant, we wonder, the bumps from riding, maybe hitting a pothole, a rock, I believe it is harmful, right? If you fall (...) I consider being pregnant and falling, there is no reason to take that risk. Also falling and getting injured, displacing the placenta, I don’t know, causing the uterus to rupture due to the impact...” (M., 19 years, remained active, low schooling). |
| Malformations |
“After I was sure I was pregnant, I told her that it was not good to ride my bike in the beginning because the fetus is growing and could develop malformations. ‘ − Did the doctor say that?’. Yes, and harm the baby. But I should wait a while, like until the sixth month, then I could ride again. But how can I ride now with such a big belly? (...) when the fetus is growing, he/she grows upside down, [right?], or upright, I don’t know! It could hurt a body part, arms, legs. ‘ − By pressing the baby?’. Yes, pressing and bending the limbs of the baby, causing a malformation (...) maybe a foot, a leg, an arm”. (S., 31 years, decreased physical activiy, low schooling). |
