High Risk Pregnancy: Nutritional Program for Improving Obesity of Maternal Health

Abstract

M aternal obesity is defined as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 at the first booking appointment. Excessive gestational weight gain is independently and strongly associated with macrosomia, particularly among overweight and obese women, which leads to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes such as pre eclampsia, seizures, hypoglycemia, failed induction, prolonged labor, caesarean birth, birth trauma, birth asphyxia, and increased risk of perinatal mortality. Moreover, there is a positive association between gestational weight and postpartum weight retention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional program for improving obesity on maternal health through assessing maternal knowledge about obesity during pregnancy, assessing maternal practices related to their nutritional lifestyle to determine their needs, designing and implementing nutritional program according to the class of obesity, evaluating the effect of the program on the mother & neonatal health. The study was carried out Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers at El- Giza and EL-Moneab areas using a controlled quasi-experimental design with pre- post assessment. The sample consisted of a study group of 50 obese pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy who received the educational progrem and a control group of 50 similar women under routine care. The data collection tools consisted of an interview questionnaire form assessing women's socio demographic data, obstetric and medical history, current pregnancy details, knowledge assessment and practices, and a food frequency intake sheet; and a physical assessment and follow up sheet to record initial and follow up visits, assessment covering ANC visits data, follow-up complaints, diagnosed problems, weight, and fetal heart rate (FHR), and pregnancy outcomes. A pilot study was conducted on ten obese pregnant women and the tools were finalized accordingly. The work was carried out through assessment (pretest), planning, implementation, and evaluation (posttest) phases lasting from May 2013 to May 2014.