Pregnancy often makes women feel "free" from the stigma of being overweight, researchers say today.
While some women felt more accepting of their weight, others felt that pregnancy was the ideal time to make changes. Others highlighted examples of poor health care provision.
Obesity during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, prolonged pregnancy, induced labour, caesareans, miscarriage, stillbirth and death of the baby.
Dr Debbie Smith of Manchester University, UK, and her team analysed six previous studies of experiences in pregnancy among obese women – those with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.
Results are published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The team found some cases where women "felt positive about their body changing and felt free from the stigma of being overweight", as well as feeling that weight gain is acceptable in pregnancy and not a concern until after the baby is born.
But many women claimed they were not given enough information on obesity risks, why screening was carried out, and why they were being monitored. Some reported receiving negative treatment, which they blamed on their weight.
A large number of women in the studies viewed pregnancy as a good time to start making changes to their lifestyle.
"This paper shows that antenatal care should include postnatal weight management advice as this is the period when women with a BMI of more than 30 want to lose weight and this may enable subsequent pregnancies to start with a lower BMI," says Dr Smith.
"It is important to remember however that such advice should be sensitive and tailored to the individual."
The growing number of pregnant women who are obese has led to recent guidelines and debate about how to manage it. Official guidance suggests women should give up the idea they need to "eat for two".
Smith, D. and Lavender, T. The maternity experience for women with a body mass index >30: a meta-synthesis. BJOG, published online March 9, 2011.
Leave a Reply