Bahri Khomami M, Walker R, Kilpatrick M, de Jersey S, Skouteris H, Moran LJ. The role of midwives and obstetrical nurses in the promotion of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.
Ther Adv Reprod Health 2021;
15:26334941211031866. [PMID:
34396131 PMCID:
PMC8361518 DOI:
10.1177/26334941211031866]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Women with maternal obesity, an unhealthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy
and excess gestational weight gain have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy
and birth outcomes that can also increase the risk of long-term poor health for
them and their children. Pregnant women have frequent medical appointments and
are highly receptive to health advice. Healthcare professionals who interact
with women during pregnancy are in a privileged position to support women to
make lasting healthy lifestyle changes that can improve gestational weight gain
and pregnancy outcomes and halt the intergenerational nature of obesity.
Midwives and obstetrical nurses are key healthcare professionals responsible for
providing antenatal care in most countries. Therefore, it is crucial for them to
build and enhance their ability to promote healthy lifestyles in pregnant women.
Undergraduate midwifery curricula usually lack sufficient lifestyle content to
provide emerging midwives and obstetrical nurses with the knowledge, skills, and
confidence to effectively assess and support healthy lifestyle behaviours in
pregnant women. Consequently, registered midwives and obstetrical nurses may not
recognise their role in healthy lifestyle promotion specific to healthy eating
and physical activity in practice. In addition, practising midwives and
obstetrical nurses do not consistently have access to healthy lifestyle
promotion training in the workplace. Therefore, many midwives and obstetrical
nurses may not have the confidence and/or skills to support pregnant women to
improve their lifestyles. This narrative review summarises the role of midwives
and obstetrical nurses in the promotion of healthy lifestyles relating to
healthy eating and physical activity and optimising weight in pregnancy, the
barriers that they face to deliver optimal care and an overview of what we know
works when supporting midwives and obstetrical nurses in their role to support
women in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
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