Connections Between Prenatal Physical Activity and Breastfeeding Decisions.

Women who engage in prenatal physical activity give themselves, and their child, an advantage over women who did not engage in prenatal physical activity; not only are there significant health benefits for mothers, but there are also great benefits for the unborn child. Breastfeeding is another important decision parents make that can affect the mother and her child. There has been extensive research on the benefits of both prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding, but the connection between the two is unclear. The purpose of this grounded theory article was to identify potential connections between factors influencing women's decisions to engage in prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding among mothers in a medium-sized city in Tennessee. Responses from mothers revealed numerous themes related to both prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding. Connections between prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding, in addition to an overarching theme that captured the women's collective experience, were identified.