The role of midwives and obstetrical nurses in the promotion of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy

Mahnaz Bahri Khomami; Ruth Walker; Michelle Kilpatrick; Susan de Jersey; Helen Skouteris; Lisa J Moran

doi:10.1177/26334941211031866

The role of midwives and obstetrical nurses in the promotion of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy

Ther Adv Reprod Health. 2021 Aug 6:15:26334941211031866. doi: 10.1177/26334941211031866. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Mahnaz Bahri Khomami¹, Ruth Walker², Michelle Kilpatrick³, Susan de Jersey⁴, Helen Skouteris², Lisa J Moran²

Affiliations

¹ Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
² Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
⁴ Perinatal Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Research and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

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.

Keywords: gestational weight gain; healthy lifestyle; intervention; midwifery; training.

Publication types

Review