ABSTRACT
Background: There are no guidelines on gestational weight gain (GWG) in the UK although excess gain may increase the risk of postpartum obesity Siega-Riz et al. [1]. The present study aims to explore pregnant women’s knowledge of GWG and information received, using data from the managing weight gain in pregnancy (MAGIC) study, a longitudinal study investigating the knowledge, attitude, experience and expectation of women during and after pregnancy relating to their body weight and the factors that influence GWG. Methods: 70 participants were recruited for this cross-sectional study through the MAGIC study. Ethical approval was obtained by the East Midlands-Northampton Research Ethic committee and the R&D department at Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust. Pregnant women able to read English of all ethnicities, socio-demographic backgrounds and body weights, ≥18 years were recruited at 12 or 20 week antenatal clinics. A questionnaire set was developed requiring quantitative and qualitative responses, where possible using validated questions. Women’s height and weight were recorded on the day of recruitment. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare women’s expectation of weight change during pregnancy against their BMI classification, the number of women who weighed themselves during pregnancy against their BMI classification and to compare the BMI classifications of women who received advice. The level of expectation of weight change and the women’s ages were compared using a Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: Mean BMI (SD) of participants=26.4kg/m2 (5.9). 97.7% of participants reported being weighed by a healthcare professional (HCP) during their pregnancy. No significant difference was found between level of expectation of weight gain and BMI (p=0.479), level of expectation and previous pregnancies (p=0.093) or expectation and women’s age (p=0.484). No significant difference was found between self-weighing and BMI (p=0.060). 17.1% of women reported receiving advice on body weight from a HCP during pregnancy, no significant difference was found between receiving advice and BMI (p=0.616). Discussion: Overall the results show that most women don’t have a clear expectation of how their weight will change during pregnancy regardless of age, BMI and previous pregnancies and do not receive advice on body weight from HCPs. Pregnancy is seen as a receptive time to provide women with advice and a lack of advice on body weight from HCPs has been linked to a lack of concern from pregnant women Olander et al. [2]. Although no specific weight gain guidelines exist in the UK, the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) recommends that all obese pregnant women should be provided with information about the risks associated with obesity in pregnancy and how they may be minimised, CMACE/RCOG [3]. In the current study, 33 women, who were overweight or obese, reported they did not receive advice on weight management, suggesting recommendations are not being followed. Conclusion: Most women did not have a clear expectation of weight change during pregnancy and although most are weighed by a healthcare professional they don’t receive GWG advice. This could be a missed opportunity to provide information on body weight during pregnancy although without clear guidelines on GWG, HCPs are limited on what they should recommend.