Weight Management for Postpartum Women

Abstract

Introduction: Failure to lose pregnancy weight can lead to an over-weight or obese status for a lifetime. The purpose of this project was to provide a health promotion program focusing on weight management for postpartum women. Weight management postpartum can be achieved with breastfeeding, appropriate nutrition and physical activity. The Social Cognitive and Self-Regulation Theory are the conceptual frameworks used to structure this program’s interventions. Methods: The program was conducted in the summer of 2014 with 12 postpartum women enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) clinic in Wahiawa. Pre- and post-program questionnaires were used to assess knowledge prior to the program’s implementation and to assess changes in health behaviors after program completion. A pedometer was given to track maternal daily steps, along with daily food servings template for breastfeeding moms to use. Results: The women reported that walking daily with a pedometer was an achievable intervention during the postpartum period. The frequency of maternal walking and increase in steps/day was positively related to social/family support.. There was no change in breastfeeding status for those doing so exclusively, but the participants that were breastfeeding and supplementing at the beginning of the program were exclusively formula feeding at the end of the eight weeks of maternal participation in the DNP Project. Discussion: The simple physical activity of daily walking allows postpartum women to easily participate. However, social/family support contributes to the continuation of this health intervention. Self-regulation of health behaviors can be a motivator; however, it appears to be ideal for regulation of physical activity but not nutrition. Continuous breastfeeding support is necessary to ensure the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for infants and mothers.