Maternal gestational weight gain during pregnancy: prioritising the conversation

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Walker ◽  
Danielle Mazza ◽  
Michelle Blumfield ◽  
Christie Bennett ◽  
Helen Truby

Pregnancy is a critical stage of life requiring urgent attention when taking a lifespan approach to obesity prevention. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is highly predictive of overweight and obesity later in life for women and their offspring. This discussion describes the challenges faced by health professionals (general practitioners, midwives, allied health) in primary care in Australia when addressing GWG, presents evidence that supports re-prioritising GWG and highlights strategies that can be used to address GWG. The revised National Health and Medical Research Council antenatal care guidelines (to be formally released in early 2018) indicate it will be the responsibility of health professionals in antenatal care to initiate conversations about GWG with women. Women are open to discussing this sensitive topic and health professionals in primary care have an opportunity to be proactive in addressing barriers that have hindered conversations about GWG in the past so that women are supported to manage their weight during pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Milan Lacković

 The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health problems is increasing worldwide, especially among woman and man of reproductive age and obesity is designated as one of the most important global health threats in 21st century.  Pregnancy in obese woman is considered as a high-risk pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are distinct risk factors with differing associated adverse outcomes, but they could also carry a cumulative negative impact on pregnancy course. Pre-pregnancy obesity is the anthropometric parameter most strongly correlated with perinatal complications. Maternal complications following obesity include antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum complications, such as pregnancy related hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, venous thromboembolism, labor dystocia, labor induction, instrumental and cesarean delivery. Fetal complications related to maternal obesity might include increased prevalence of congenital anomalies, growth abnormalities, prematurity and stillbirth. Pre- pregnancy overweight and obesity is a potentially modifiable risk factor compromising pregnancy outcome. Among all complications that might arise during pregnancy and that could not be predicted and therefore prevented, pre- pregnancy overweight and obesity management control can significantly reduce potential pregnancy complications. Pre-conceptual counseling should provide in a timely manner awareness of this arising medical condition and provide risk reduction of complications following pre- pregnancy obesity and excessive GWG  obesity, pre-pregnancy obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, pregnancy risk factors, pregnancy complications  



2020 ◽  
pp. 135910532091393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah M Hecht ◽  
Natalie Schwartz ◽  
Lisa R Miller-Matero ◽  
Jordan M Braciszewski ◽  
Alissa Haedt-Matt

Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with negative outcomes and the identification of contributing psychosocial factors may be useful in prevention and intervention. Pregnant women ( N = 70) completed self-report measures of eating pathology, depressive symptomatology, and gestational weight gain. Global eating pathology was positively associated with overvaluation of shape and weight, dietary restraint, frequency of binge eating, and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms significantly predicted excessive gestational weight gain, while global eating pathology predicted excessive gestational weight gain at a trend level. Results suggest that depressive symptoms more strongly predict excessive gestational weight gain than eating pathology.



2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-257
Author(s):  
Jiajun Lyu ◽  
Qingqing Zhu ◽  
Shilu Tong ◽  
Xiujuan Su ◽  
Shenghui Li ◽  
...  


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Kingsland ◽  
Jenna Hollis ◽  
Eva Farragher ◽  
Luke Wolfenden ◽  
Karen Campbell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Weight gain during pregnancy that is outside of recommended levels is associated with a range of adverse outcomes for the mother and child, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and obesity. Internationally, 60–80% of pregnant women report gaining weight outside of recommended levels. While guideline recommendations and RCT evidence support the provision of antenatal care that supports healthy gestational weight gain, less than 10% of health professionals routinely weigh pregnant women; discuss weight gain, diet, and physical activity; and provide a referral for additional support. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of an implementation intervention in increasing the provision of recommended gestational weight gain care by maternity services. Methods A stepped-wedge controlled trial, with a staggered implementation intervention, will be conducted across maternity services in three health sectors in New South Wales, Australia. The implementation intervention will consist of evidence-based, locally-tailored strategies including guidelines and procedures, reminders and prompts, leadership support, champions, training, and monitoring and feedback. Primary outcome measures will be the proportion of women who report receiving (i) assessment of gestational weight gain; (ii) advice on gestational weight gain, dietary intake, and physical activity; and (iii) offer of referral to a telephone coaching service or local dietetics service. Measurement of outcomes will occur via telephone interviews with a random sample of women who attend antenatal appointments each week. Economic analyses will be undertaken to assess the cost, cost-consequence, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of the implementation intervention. Receipt of all care elements, acceptance of referral, weight gain during pregnancy, diet quality, and physical activity will be measured as secondary outcomes. Process measures including acceptability, adoption, fidelity, and reach will be reported. Discussion This will be the first controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a implementation intervention in improving antenatal care that addresses gestational weight gain. The findings will inform decision-making by maternity services and policy agencies and, if the intervention is demonstrated to be effective, could be applied at scale to benefit the health of women and children across Australia and internationally. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12621000054819. Registered on 22 January 2021



2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 3795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Baran ◽  
Aneta Weres ◽  
Ewelina Czenczek-Lewandowska ◽  
Justyna Leszczak ◽  
Katarzyna Kalandyk-Osinko ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of mothers’ gestational weight gain (GWG) and age at birth on the long-term risk of overweight and obesity in preschool and school-aged children. Methods: The study involved 749 mothers and children at ages between four and 15 years old. Each child was assessed for height and body weight, and then, the body mass category was determined based on the body mass index (BMI) percentile according to the sex and age of the subjects. Information on the perinatal risk factors for overweight and obesity came from the child’s health card or mother’s maternity card. They contained information about the mother’s age at the time of childbirth and the mother’s gestational weight gain during pregnancy. Results: In the group of 7–11-year-olds, the maternal weight gain during pregnancy was higher in obese children than in children with normal weight (18.8 kg vs. 14.3 kg; p = 0.002). This relationship was shown analogously in the group of 7–11-years-olds boys (20.6 kg vs. 15.1 kg; p = 0.005). Positive correlations were also shown between mother’s gestational weight gain and the BMI percentage of the whole group (p = 0.004). In the case of the mother’s age, no statistically significant relationship was found with the child’s weight category. Conclusions: Mothers’ weight gain during pregnancy is a factor that promotes overweightness and obesity in the child. Maternal age at birth does not appear to lead to any propensity toward overweightness and obesity in the later life of a child.



2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Merkx ◽  
Marlein Ausems ◽  
Luc Budé ◽  
Raymond de Vries ◽  
Marianne J. Nieuwenhuijze

BACKGROUND: A significant contributor to the global threat of obesity is excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). The aim of this article is to explore Dutch primary care midwives’ behaviors in promoting healthy GWG.METHODS: We used the attitude–social influence–self-efficacy (ASE) model to guide interviews with a purposive sample of 6 midwives working in primary care.RESULTS: Midwives reported activities in 3 areas related to GWG: GWG monitoring (weighing and discussing GWG), diet education, and to a lesser degree physical activity education. The determinants from the ASE model were confirmed and other relevant determinants, including midwives’ perception of their role in health promotion, were added.PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The identified determinants can be used for quantitative research. Quantitative research is necessary to identify the magnitude of the determinants associated with midwives’ behavior in promoting healthy GWG.



Author(s):  
Daiane Sofia Morais Paulino ◽  
Maira Pinho-Pompeu ◽  
Fernanda Raikov ◽  
Juliana Vasconcellos Freitas-Jesus ◽  
Helymar Costa Machado ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To evaluate the influence of health-related behaviors including food intake, physical activity, sleep time, smoking habits, stress, depression, and optimism on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among women with overweight and obesity. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Women's Hospital of the Universidade de Campinas, Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, with 386 mediate postpartum women that fit the inclusion criteria of ≥ 19 years old, first prenatal care visit at or before 14 weeks, and single live baby. Dietary habits, physical exercise practice, sleep duration, smoking and alcohol habits were self-reported. Psychosocial history was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). Sociodemographic, obstetric, anthropometric, and neonatal data were retrieved from medical records. Descriptive statistics and stepwise logistic regression were performed. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.27% and 24.61%, respectively, according to the body mass index (BMI). Excessive GWG was observed in 47.79% of women with overweight and in 45.26% of women with obesity. Excessive GWG among overweight and obese women was associated with inadequate vegetable and bean consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 2.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–6.46 and OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.01–3.63, respectively) and stress (OR = 1.63; 95%CI 1.01–2.64). After adjustment by maternal age, multiparity, sleep duration, smoking, and alcohol intake, we found that stress (PSS ≥ 20) was associated with excessive GWG in women with overweight or obesity (OR: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.03–2.96). Conclusion Among women with overweight and obesity, stress is the main variable associated with excessive GWG. Inadequate vegetables and beans consumption also showed association with excessive GWG.



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