Shanna Fealy1, Donovan Jones2, Deborah Davis3, Michael Hazelton4, Maralyn Foureur5, John Attia6, Alexis Hure6. 1. Charles Sturt University, Faculty of Science, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, 7 Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, 2444; University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Medicine and Public Health, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia, 2308; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia, 2305. Electronic address: sfealy@csu.edu.au. 2. Charles Sturt University, Faculty of Science, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, 7 Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, 2444; University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Medicine and Public Health, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia, 2308. 3. University of Canberra and ACT Government Health Directorate. 4. Charles Sturt University, Faculty of Science, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, 7 Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, 2444; University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia, 2308; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia, 2305. 5. University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia, 2308; Hunter New England Health Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre. 6. University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Medicine and Public Health, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia, 2308; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia, 2305.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Supporting women to achieve healthy gestational weight gain is a global health challenge. Inadequate and excessive gestational weight gains are associated with short and long-term adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Qualitative studies suggest that symptoms of pregnancy, health professional attitudes, lack of guidance, personal knowledge and beliefs, lack of support, weight stigma, and lack of time and money, are barriers to achieving healthy weight gain. Less is known about women's perceptions and experience of gestational weight gain within normal body mass index categories with even less known about the experience of women motivated to participate in pregnancy weight management intervention trials. AIM: To describe the experience and perspectives of women participating in an Australian weight management pilot randomised controlled trial. METHODS: Five women from regional New South Wales enrolled in the Eating 4 Two trial, participated in semi - structured interviews during the post-natal period. A qualitative descriptive methodology and inductive thematic analysis was applied. FINDINGS: Two main themes emerged: 1) Addressing weight gain in pregnancy; and 2) Pregnancy weight the balancing act. Women identified weight gain as an important topic, the need for improvements within maternity services, responsive feedback and realistic support strategies. Women identified pregnancy symptoms, occurring during early and late pregnancy as barriers to achieving healthy weight gain. CONCLUSION: Further investigation into the effects of pregnancy symptoms on eating and physical activity patterns across pregnancy is warranted. Both qualitative and quantitative research is needed to monitor the translation of guideline recommendations into clinical practice.
BACKGROUND: Supporting women to achieve healthy gestational weight gain is a global health challenge. Inadequate and excessive gestational weight gains are associated with short and long-term adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Qualitative studies suggest that symptoms of pregnancy, health professional attitudes, lack of guidance, personal knowledge and beliefs, lack of support, weight stigma, and lack of time and money, are barriers to achieving healthy weight gain. Less is known about women's perceptions and experience of gestational weight gain within normal body mass index categories with even less known about the experience of women motivated to participate in pregnancy weight management intervention trials. AIM: To describe the experience and perspectives of women participating in an Australian weight management pilot randomised controlled trial. METHODS: Five women from regional New South Wales enrolled in the Eating 4 Two trial, participated in semi - structured interviews during the post-natal period. A qualitative descriptive methodology and inductive thematic analysis was applied. FINDINGS: Two main themes emerged: 1) Addressing weight gain in pregnancy; and 2) Pregnancy weight the balancing act. Women identified weight gain as an important topic, the need for improvements within maternity services, responsive feedback and realistic support strategies. Women identified pregnancy symptoms, occurring during early and late pregnancy as barriers to achieving healthy weight gain. CONCLUSION: Further investigation into the effects of pregnancy symptoms on eating and physical activity patterns across pregnancy is warranted. Both qualitative and quantitative research is needed to monitor the translation of guideline recommendations into clinical practice.
Authors: Taniya S Nagpal; Ximena Ramos Salas; Michael Vallis; Helena Piccinini-Vallis; Angela S Alberga; Rhonda C Bell; Danilo F da Silva; Margie H Davenport; Laura Gaudet; Angela C Incollingo Rodriguez; Rebecca H Liu; Maxine Myre; Kara Nerenberg; Sarah Nutter; Shelly Russell-Mayhew; Sara C S Souza; Candace Vilhan; Kristi B Adamo Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-07-29 Impact factor: 3.105