Preventing Excessive Weight Gain in Pregnancy: How Do Prenatal Care Providers Approach Counseling?

Naomi E Stotland; Paul Gilbert; Alyssa Bogetz; Cynthia C Harper; Barbara Abrams; Barbara Gerbert

doi:10.1089/jwh.2009.1462

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Preventing Excessive Weight Gain in Pregnancy: How Do Prenatal Care Providers Approach Counseling?

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Preventing Excessive Weight Gain in Pregnancy: How Do Prenatal Care Providers Approach Counseling?

Naomi E Stotland, Paul Gilbert, Alyssa Bogetz, Cynthia C Harper, Barbara Abrams and Barbara Gerbert

Journal of women's health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002), Vol.19(4), pp.807-814

04/2010

DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2009.1462

PMCID: PMC2867592

PMID: 20078239

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Abstract

Background: Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is becoming more common and is associated with many adverse maternal and infant outcomes. There is a paucity of data on how weight gain counseling is actually provided in prenatal care settings. Our objective was to study prenatal care providers and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding prevention of excessive weight gain during pregnancy and, secondarily, their approach to nutrition and physical activity counseling during pregnancy. Methods: We conducted seven focus groups of general obstetrician/gynecologists, midwives, and nurse practitioners. We analyzed data using qualitative methods. Results: Providers agreed to participate because they were unsure of the effectiveness of their counseling efforts and wanted to learn new techniques for counseling patients about weight gain, nutrition, and physical activity. We identified several barriers to weight gain counseling, including insufficient training, concern about the sensitivity of the topic, and the perception that counseling is ineffective. Providers all agreed that weight gain was an important topic with short-term and long-term health consequences, but they described widely disparate counseling styles and approaches. Conclusions: Prenatal care providers are deeply concerned about excessive weight gain and its sequelae in their patients but encounter barriers to effective counseling. Providers want new tools to help them address weight gain counseling during pregnancy.

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Title: Subtitle: Preventing Excessive Weight Gain in Pregnancy: How Do Prenatal Care Providers Approach Counseling?
Creators: Naomi E Stotland - Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Dentistry
Paul Gilbert - Division of Behavioral Sciences, Professionalism, and Ethics, School of Dentistry
Alyssa Bogetz - Division of Behavioral Sciences, Professionalism, and Ethics, School of Dentistry
Cynthia C Harper - Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Dentistry
Barbara Abrams - Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Barbara Gerbert - Division of Behavioral Sciences, Professionalism, and Ethics, School of Dentistry
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of women's health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002), Vol.19(4), pp.807-814
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2009.1462
PMID: 20078239
PMCID: PMC2867592
NLM abbreviation: J Womens Health (Larchmt)
ISSN: 1540-9996
eISSN: 1931-843X
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
Language: English
Date published: 04/2010
Academic Unit: Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984063133602771

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