Nolan Rachel, Gallagher Alison M, Hill Alyson J
Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Co. Londonderry Northern Ireland, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Dec 19;24(1):823. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-07033-6.
Gaining excessive weight during pregnancy has been linked with adverse effects including increased risk of caesarean delivery and postpartum weight retention. Despite these recognised risks, currently no UK/Ireland gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines exist, women are not routinely weighed throughout pregnancy and consequently, women's understanding of the importance of weight management during, and post-pregnancy remains poor. The present study explored factors influencing weight change during and post-pregnancy and identified potential opportunities that could help women manage weight during these periods.
Women aged 18-45 years-old who had an uncomplicated pregnancy within the last 3 years were invited to complete an online questionnaire (n = 108) regarding their experience of changes in body weight during and post-pregnancy. Follow on focus groups (n = 13 women) were conducted online within the same population to delve deeper into the topic, the sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and data subjected to directive content analysis based on the socio-ecological model.
Respondents reported in the online questionnaire, they did not receive enough information around weight management during (81.5%) and post-pregnancy (86.1%). Focus group qualitative data identified barriers to managing weight at each level of the ecological model, at the intrapersonal (e.g., changes in diet), interpersonal (e.g., conflicting advice), environment and society (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), and institutional and policy (e.g., system failing) levels. Potential strategies to help manage weight were also identified, at the intrapersonal (e.g., need for further information), interpersonal (e.g., support groups), environment and society (e.g., messaging), and institutional and policy (e.g., further follow-up care) levels.
Mothers report receiving insufficient information around weight management, with barriers identified at each level of the ecological model. Highlighting that support and change is needed on multiple levels both during and post-pregnancy, with potential strategies identified, which could potentially inform future studies.
孕期体重过度增加与剖宫产风险增加及产后体重滞留等不良影响相关。尽管存在这些公认的风险，但目前英国/爱尔兰尚无关于孕期体重增加（GWG）的指南，女性在整个孕期并未常规称重，因此，女性对孕期及产后体重管理重要性的认识仍然不足。本研究探讨了孕期及产后影响体重变化的因素，并确定了有助于女性在这些时期控制体重的潜在机会。
邀请过去3年内有过正常妊娠的18 - 45岁女性完成一份关于其孕期及产后体重变化经历的在线问卷（n = 108）。在同一人群中在线开展后续焦点小组讨论（n = 13名女性），以更深入地探讨该主题，讨论过程进行记录、逐字转录，并基于社会生态模型对数据进行定向内容分析。
在线问卷的受访者表示，她们在孕期（81.5%）和产后（86.1%）没有获得足够的体重管理信息。焦点小组的定性数据确定了生态模型各层面体重管理的障碍，包括个人层面（如饮食变化）、人际层面（如相互矛盾的建议）、环境与社会层面（如新冠疫情）以及机构与政策层面（如系统失灵）。还确定了有助于控制体重的潜在策略，包括个人层面（如需要更多信息）、人际层面（如支持小组）、环境与社会层面（如信息传递）以及机构与政策层面（如进一步的后续护理）。
母亲们报告称在体重管理方面获得的信息不足，生态模型各层面均存在障碍。这表明孕期及产后在多个层面都需要支持和改变，并确定了潜在策略，这可能为未来的研究提供参考。
