Determinants of weight gain and body changes during pregnancy: A qualitative study of French-Canadian pregnant people.

OBJECTIVE

More than half of pregnant Canadian people exceed current gestational weight gain recommendations, which has been associated with adverse outcomes for both parent and child. Although the physiological causes of excessive gestational weight gain have been well investigated, few studies have evaluated the context of gestational weight gain and body changes through the perspective of pregnant people. Therefore, we aim to explore factors influencing body changes and weight gain during pregnancy as experienced by pregnant individuals.

METHODS

A total of three focus groups and six individual interviews were conducted with pregnant people (n=21) recruited in the 2 or 3 trimester. A semi-structured interview guide was developed according to a pre-existing conceptual model by Hill et al., 2013. Focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed using NVivo software.

FINDINGS

Results were categorized into four main themes, based on the conceptual model: (1) parental psychological, social and cognitive factors, (2) outcomes, (3) parental behaviors and (4) health behavior change constructs. Participants identified structural, social, professional, and especially partner support (1), health-related strategies (2), body image (1) and knowledge of gestational weight gain recommendations (3) as influent components of their body changes experience.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the themes addressed affect both pregnant individuals and their relatives. Enhanced knowledge of gestational weight gain recommendations in this population, support from relatives and quality of follow-up offered by health professionals must therefore be considered as possible avenues of intervention.