Gestational weight gain counselling gaps as perceived by pregnant women and new mothers: Findings from the electronic maternal health survey

Abstract

ProblemToo much or too little gestational weight gain (GWG) can negatively impact maternal and fetal health, according to Institute of Medicine Guidelines. BackgroundHealth care providers are key players in providing reliable evidence-informed prenatal advice related to appropriate GWG. However, there appears to be inconsistent GWG communication among healthcare providers during prenatal care. AimTo determine pregnant women and new mothers’ perceptions of healthcare provider GWG and dietary counselling during the pregnancy period. MethodsA reliable and validated cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to currently pregnant women and women who had recently given birth. The web-based questionnaire was self-administered and took 10–25min. FindingsA total of 1507 eligible women participated in the survey. More than half (57%) reported that their healthcare provider talked to them about personal weight gain limits. Of these participants, about a third (34%) of participants were counselled regularly at each or most visits. Among the women that were not counselled on personal GWG limits, over half (56%) reported that healthcare provider guidance would have been helpful to achieve their target weight. Less than half (45%) of participants reported that their healthcare providers discussed dietary requirements or changes in pregnancy. DiscussionThese findings highlight areas for improvement in prenatal dialogue, which can support better outcomes for both mother and baby. ConclusionA better understanding of pregnant and mothers’ perceptions about weight and diet counselling is needed to understand what may need greater attention and clarification and to improve such dialogue.