Weight During the Postpartum Period: What Can Health Care Workers Do?
Abstract
To describe the gestational month-to-month weight change, obstetric and lifestyle factors influencing postpartum weight retention (PPWR) and to suggest possible interventions to prevent PPWR. This study was part of a larger research project concerning maternal weight change after childbirth. 343 women were recruited on five maternity wards in the Antwerp region, Belgium. Weight and height were assessed by the researchers during two home visits at 3 and 14 months postpartum and participants completed a questionnaire investigating obstetric and lifestyle factors during the first home visit. The monthly weights in between the home visits were self-reported by the participants. Full data were available for 75 women. One year after childbirth 52.0 % of the women faced postpartum weight retention. The different monthly weight points within the changes differed significantly from each other up to sixth months postpartum. Prepregnancy weight, exceeding the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concerning weight gain during pregnancy, smoking behaviour and exercising during pregnancy significantly influenced the postpartum weight change. The amount of weight gained during pregnancy, breastfeeding, possible postpartum depression and experiencing a shortage of information concerning the weight change after childbirth significantly influenced postpartum weight retention. Weight gain during pregnancy, exceeding IOM-criteria, breastfeeding, depression and lack of information determine PPWR and can be modulated by interventions such as routine weighing or screening of pregnant women. Several of these influencing factors can be preventively influenced by health care workers. Overall, we believe women could benefit from more guidance before, during and after pregnancy. Moreover, we recommend to reintroduce routine weighing of pregnant women as weight gain during pregnancy seems one of the most important factors involved in PPWR.
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Significantly more women with postpartum weight retention had higher scores on the PPD scale.
“The two last studies evaluated postpartum weight retention (PPWR) and found that significantly more women with PPWR had higher scores on the PPD scale.35,67”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
Depressed mothers presented more postpartum weight retention (PPWR) and lower scores on all SF-36 domains.
“Only three studies included in the present systematic review showed that depressed mothers presented more PPWR35,67 and lower scores on all SF-36 domains,88”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Biesmans, K., Franck, E., Ceulemans, C., Jacquemyn, Y., & Van Bogaert, P.
- Affiliations
- Karel de Grote Hogeschool (BE)
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Biesmans, Kathleen
- Venue
- Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Published
- 2012-07-15
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 996-1004
- ISSN
- 1092-7875 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6628
- OpenAlex
- W1978128579
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 2.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Maternal and Child Health Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Vlaamse regering
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- postpartum weight retention, gestational weight gain, pre-pregnancy weight, smoking during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum depression, maternal weight change
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Belgium, Breast Feeding, Counseling, Female, Health Personnel, Health Promotion, Humans, Life Style, Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, Preventive Health Services, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Weight Gain, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Postpartum Period, Young Adult
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