McCann, M, Newson, LM, Charnley, MS, Rooney, J, Burden, C and Abayomi, JC (2017) A qualitative study exploring midwives’ perceptions and knowledge of maternal obesity. Reflecting on their experiences of providing healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 14 (2). ISSN 1740-8695

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Abstract

Midwives are responsible for providing advice regarding the complex issues of healthy eating and weight management during pregnancy. This study utilised an inductive data-driven thematic approach in order to determine midwives’ perceptions, knowledge and experiences of providing healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. Semi-structured interviews with 17 midwives were transcribed verbatim and data subjected to thematic analysis. The findings offer insight into the challenges facing midwives in their role trying to promote healthy eating and appropriate weight management to pregnant women. Three core themes were identified: 1) “If they eat healthily it will bring their weight down”: Midwives Misunderstood; 2) “I don’t think we are experienced enough”: Midwives Lack Resources and Expertise, and 3) “BMI of 32 wouldn’t bother me”: Midwives Normalised Obesity. The midwives recognised the importance of providing healthy eating advice to pregnant women and the health risks associated with poor diet and obesity. However, they reported the normalisation of obesity in pregnant women and suggested that this, together with their high workload and lack of expertise, explained the reasons why systematic advice was not in standard antenatal care. In addition, the current lack of UK clinical guidance, and thus possibly lack of clinical leadership, are also preventing delivery of tailored advice. Implementation literature on understanding the barriers to optimal healthcare delivery and informing clinical practice through research evidence needs to be further investigated in this field. This study has recommendations for policy makers, commissioners, service providers and midwives. Keywords: midwives, pregnancy, obesity, healthy eating, qualitative, self-efficacy

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of the following article: McCann, MT; Newson, L; Burden, C; Rooney, JS; Charnley, MS & Abayomi, JC. (2017). A qualitative study exploring midwives’ perceptions and knowledge of maternal obesity. Reflecting on their experiences of providing healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Volume 17, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12520
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1111 Nutrition And Dietetics
Subjects:	T Technology > TX Home economics > TX341 Nutrition. Foods and food supply R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions:	Natural Sciences and Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19) Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2018 15:01
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 10:19
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/mcn.12520
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/8998

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• A qualitative study exploring midwives’ perceptions and knowledge of maternal obesity. Reflecting on their experiences of providing healthy eating and weight management advice to pregnant women. (deposited 05 Sep 2017 11:01)
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