The effect of language preference on prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight retention in urban Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE

To describe prenatal weight gain and postpartum loss patterns among Hispanic women receiving prenatal care at an urban community health center by language preference.

METHODS

Data were abstracted from medical records of prenatal patients seen from 2000-2008. Included were self-identified Hispanic women, English- or Spanish-speaking, aged 16-40 years, with weight measured at < or =13 and at >37 weeks gestation. Women with preexisting diabetes, hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, multiple gestation, or preterm delivery were excluded. Bivariate (t-test, chi-square) and multivariate regression (linear, polychotomous logistic) statistics were used in the analysis.

RESULTS

Of 259 women who met eligibility criteria, 52 (20.1%) were primarily Spanish speakers. Overall, 43.6% exceeded prenatal weightgain recommendations; 30.8% of Spanish speakers vs 46.9% of English speakers (P=.07). Among normal-weight women, Spanish speakers gained below and English speakers gained above that recommended (P=.03). At late postpartum, 22.9% overall returned to their baseline body mass index (BMI +/-0.5 kg/m2); Spanish speakers retained 1.21 vs 1.53 kg/m2 among English speakers, which was not statistically significant. Adjusting for baseline BMI, age, and smoking status, language preference was not associated with prenatal weight gain or postpartum weight retention. In adjusted models, being overweight at baseline was predictive of excessive prenatal weight gain (OR 2.12, 95% CI .99, 4.53; P=.05); older age was protective for postpartum weight retention (OR .90; 95% CI .82, .98; P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to prenatal weight gain guidelines was poor and few women returned to their baseline weight at late postpartum, regardless of language preference.