Weight and body image during pregnancy: a qualitative study of the experience of pregnant women, midwives and dietitians

TL;DR

This study explores how pregnant women and healthcare providers experience and manage body image and weight gain during pregnancy.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the emotional and practical challenges of addressing body image and weight during pregnancy.

Findings

Pregnant women often feel unsupported and anxious about weight gain and body changes.

Healthcare providers face challenges in addressing body image concerns due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

Interdisciplinary support and training in positive body image could improve care for pregnant women.

Abstract

Pregnancy is a time of rapid physical transformations. Medical and societal pressures regarding women’s weight and body image throughout pregnancy may increase body dissatisfaction, which can negatively affect psychological health and health behaviors. Yet healthcare providers (HCPs) often feel uncomfortable addressing the topic. This study explored women’s experiences of body changes during pregnancy, as well as the practices and challenges faced by midwives and dietitians in supporting them.

A purposeful sample of 20 pregnant women (16−32 weeks of gestation) in Switzerland participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. In addition, four focus groups were conducted with six midwives and four dietitians. All narratives were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Three themes were identified in pregnant women’s interviews: navigating body changes, managing the unmanageable, and experiencing lack of support around body image and weight gain. Women worried about weight gain, attempted to monitor their diet, and often felt unsupported by HCPs. Two themes were identified in HCP focus groups: reassuring and conveying information, and experiencing practical obstacles and societal challenges. HCPs acknowledged the sensitivity of the topic and described adopting a reassuring stance while conveying information and seeking ways to help women make peace with their bodies.

Tailored support for body image during pregnancy is needed to promote maternal and fetal health. Midwives and dietitians are well placed to provide interdisciplinary consultations addressing gestational weight gain and body dissatisfaction. Training in positive body image could enhance their confidence in addressing these issues.