Support to adopt a healthy lifestyle for pregnant women with BMI > 30

• Background A change towards healthy habits during pregnancy and in early motherhood, including weight control, increased physical activity and optimal diet habits will promote health for the woman with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, her fetus/ child, as well as for the whole family. To optimise a healthy lifestyle from early pregnancy in women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 an intervention called Mighty Mums, including advice and support on diet and physical activity was carried out in the maternity health care in Gothenburg, Sweden. . Aim To explore women´s experiences 3 years after participating in a lifestyle intervention targeting pregnant women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Methods Qualitative interviews were performed with 17 mothers who had participated in a lifestyle intervention 3 years earlier. The interviews were semi-structured and thematic analysis was used. Results All interviews were transcribed verbatim and read in full in the first analysis step. Second, initial codes were identified in the data. All features with a meaning were coded and initial codes were condensed and formed four themes. Conclusions The expected child was the main motivation for the women to participate in the intervention. The women needed to be seen and get personal support from the antenatal health care midwife and receive help to be able to control the selection and implementation of healthy activities. Extra support during pregnancy helped temporarily but there was still a need of support to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)