Abstract
BackgroundAn increase in the number of women with maternal obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) has had a huge impact on the delivery of maternity services. As part of a programme of feasibility work to design an antenatal lifestyle programme for women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, the current study explored health professionals’ experiences of caring for women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and their views of the proposed lifestyle programme.MethodSemi-structured interviews with 30 health professionals (including midwives, sonographers, anaesthetists and obstetricians) were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Recruitment occurred in two areas in the North West of England in early 2011.ResultsThree themes were evident. Firstly, obesity was seen as a conversation stopper; obesity can be a challenge to discuss. Secondly, obesity was seen as a maternity issue; obesity has a direct impact on maternity care and therefore intervention is needed. Finally, the long-term impact of maternal obesity intervention; lifestyle advice in pregnancy has the potential to break the cyclic obesity relationship. The health professionals believed that antenatal lifestyle advice can play a key role in addressing the public health issue of obesity as pregnancy is a time of increased motivation for women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2.ConclusionsMaternal obesity is a challenge and details of the training content required for health professionals to feel confident to approach the issue of maternal obesity with women are presented. Support for the antenatal lifestyle programme for women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 highlights the need for further exploration of the impact of interventions on health promotion.
Highlights
An increase in the number of women with maternal obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) has had a huge impact on the delivery of maternity services
Obesity was seen as a maternity issue; obesity has a direct impact on maternity care and intervention is needed
The health professionals believed that antenatal lifestyle advice can play a key role in addressing the public health issue of obesity as pregnancy is a time of increased motivation for women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2
Summary
An increase in the number of women with maternal obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) has had a huge impact on the delivery of maternity services. Increasing rates of maternal obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2) are a cause for concern for health professionals in clinical practice due to the increased risk for maternal complications [1,2], fetal complications [3] and the negative impact on their clinical time and resources [4,5]. The role of healthy eating and physical activity in the prevention of gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain must be explained to women [9]. Recent literature reviews have concluded that dietary and lifestyle interventions have a role in the reduction of; postnatal weight retention, the incidence of gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain [14,15]. Due to the quality of studies results must be interpreted carefully and more research conducted [16]
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