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Cited by 22Gestational Diabetes Research and ManagementObesity and Health PracticesMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Antenatal Weight Management: Women’s Experiences, Behaviours, and Expectations of Weighing in Early Pregnancy

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Swift, J. A., Pearce, J., Jethwa, P. H., Taylor, M. A., Avery, A., Ellis, S., Langley-Evans, S. C., McMullen, S.·2016·Journal of Pregnancy
DOI 10.1155/2016/8454759PMC PMC5098086
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Abstract

The current emphasis on obstetric risk management helps to frame gestational weight gain as problematic and encourages intervention by healthcare professionals. However pregnant women have reported confusion, distrust, and negative effects associated with antenatal weight management interactions. The MAGIC study (MAnaging weiGht In pregnanCy) sought to examine women’s self-reported experiences of usual-care antenatal weight management in early pregnancy and consider these alongside weight monitoring behaviours and future expectations. 193 women (18 yrs+) were recruited from routine antenatal clinics at the Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust. Self-reported gestation was 10–27 weeks, with 41.5% (n=80) between 12 and 14 and 43.0% (n=83) between 20 and 22 weeks. At recruitment 50.3% of participants (n=97) could be classified as overweight or obese. 69.4% of highest weight women (≥30 kg/m 2) did not report receiving advice about weight, although they were significantly more likely compared to women with BMI < 30 kg/m 2. The majority of women (regardless of BMI) did not express any barriers to being weighed and 40.8% reported weighing themselves at home. Women across the BMI categories expressed a desire for more engagement from healthcare professionals on the issue of bodyweight. Women are clearly not being served appropriately in the current situation which simultaneously problematizes and fails to offer constructive dialogue.

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  • Swift et al. found that most women would be happy to receive advice and guidance from health professionals on their weight.

    “However, in a study of almost 200 women in the first trimester of pregnancy, Swift et al. 113 found that most women would be happy to receive advice and guidance from health professionals on their weight, although only 15% of women reported having had any feedback on weight after having been weighed by their midwife, despite 31% having been overweight or obese going into pregnancy.”

    From Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review (2022) · cites this paper as [113]

    Results §3.3 reports that 29 of 184 women weighed (15.8%) received specific weight advice, and Results §3.2 reports that 54 of 168 with prepregnancy data (32.1%) were overweight or obese. The Discussion says women who received advice were generally not negative about it, but does not establish that most women would be happy to receive advice. Results §3.1 also places many participants at 20–22 weeks, not in the first trimester. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In Swift et al. study, 31% of women had been overweight or obese going into pregnancy.

    “However, in a study of almost 200 women in the first trimester of pregnancy, Swift et al. 113 found that most women would be happy to receive advice and guidance from health professionals on their weight, although only 15% of women reported having had any feedback on weight after having been weighed by their midwife, despite 31% having been overweight or obese going into pregnancy.”

    From Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review (2022) · cites this paper as [113]

    Results §3.2 (page unavailable) reports that 54 of 168 women with complete data self-reported a prepregnancy weight classified as overweight or obese. That is about 32%, not the cited 31%; the underlying finding is supported, but the percentage does not match. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Swift et al. found that only 15% of women reported having had any feedback on weight after having been weighed by their midwife.

    “However, in a study of almost 200 women in the first trimester of pregnancy, Swift et al. 113 found that most women would be happy to receive advice and guidance from health professionals on their weight, although only 15% of women reported having had any feedback on weight after having been weighed by their midwife, despite 31% having been overweight or obese going into pregnancy.”

    From Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review (2022) · cites this paper as [113]

  • Self-monitoring of pregnancy weight gain was a common behaviour in Swift et al. group.

    “Self‐monitoring of pregnancy weight gain was a common behaviour in this group of women, indicating that they were both interested in their weight and engaged with tracking across their pregnancy.”

    From Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review (2022) · cites this paper as [113]

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Authors
Swift, J. A., Pearce, J., Jethwa, P. H., Taylor, M. A., Avery, A., Ellis, S., Langley-Evans, S. C., & McMullen, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
  • National Childbirth Trust (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Pregnancy
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016
Volume
2016
Pages
1-9
ISSN
  • 2090-2727 (ISSN-L)
  • 2090-2735
DOI
10.1155/2016/8454759
PMC
PMC5098086
OpenAlex
W2525313862
Cited by
22
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3
FWCI
3.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Pregnancy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • SHURA (Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive) (Sheffield Hallam University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • University of Nottingham
  • School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords
gestational weight gain, early pregnancy, weight monitoring, overweight and obesity in pregnancy, healthcare professional advice, women's experiences, body weight, usual care
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Counseling, Diet, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Middle Aged, Midwifery, Obesity, Patient Education as Topic, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Pregnancy Trimester, First, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Prenatal Care, Surveys and Questionnaires, Exercise, Overweight, Young Adult

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