Women's experiences of attending a weight management in pregnancy prog
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Women's lived experiences of attending a weight management in pregnancy programme.
IRAS ID
167730
Contact name
Tania Mcintosh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 15 days
Research summary
Maternal obesity is now one of the most frequently occurring risk factors in obstetric practice, and is associated with serious adverse outcomes both for the fetus and the prospective mother. As a result of the findings of a UK nationwide three-year project, recommendations have been made that the antenatal care of women with a BMI of over 30 should follow a specially developed pathway, to be commenced by the community midwife at the booking appointment, ideally by 10 weeks’ gestation. At booking, the researcher is frequently surprised by overweight and obese women’s reactions to the suggestion that they be referred to the weight management team; these reactions range from grateful for the help offered, through embarrassment to complete incredulity and indignation.
The researcher’s local Trust supports in excess of 5500 women to give birth annually, and it is estimated that more than 950 women would benefit from the free weight management in pregnancy programme (WMIPP). The service is provided in the maternity units of the Trust’s two hospitals and in two children and family centres, and is run by specialist midwives. More than 90% of the 300 women taking part in the pilot study in 2010 either maintained their weight, or avoided gaining excessive weight during pregnancy.
Eligible women, whose body mass index at booking is 30 or over, are identified by their antenatal risk assessment form and automatically referred to the WMIPP. Uptake has been estimated at 70%.
This study aims to explore women’s experiences of attending this service, and what it means to them in the context of their lives. It is hoped that this might inform practice.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0240
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion