Gestational weight gain knowledge among low‐income pregnant Latinas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the knowledge about gestational weight gain among low‐income pregnant Latinas (N=136). Based on current IOM guidelines, over 55% of women were overweight or obese before pregnancy. Over 45% of women gained excessive gestational weight during pregnancy. When asked their feelings about how much weight they had gained during pregnancy, almost half reported they felt they had gained too much weight. Only 26% of participants knew the recommended amount of weight they should gain during pregnancy, with 31% reporting an amount less than the recommended, and 29% reporting that they didn't know how much to gain. Only 55% of women reported that a health care provider discussed gestational weight with them, however 50% of those women reported that they weren't specifically told the amount of weight they should gain. These findings show that excessive gestational weight gain is prevalent among low‐income Latinas, yet they are not being advised on appropriate gestational weight gain by health care providers. Interventions targeting dissemination of appropriate gestational weight gain recommendations by health care providers are needed. Funded by Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (NIH‐NCMHD Grant # P20MD0017650).