Midwives Attitudes towards Obesity and Midwifery-Led Care: Emphasizing Individualized and Non-judgmental Approach

Murray Davis^*
*Correspondence: Murray Davis, Department of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Email:

Description

Maternal obesity is a significant health concern that has been on the rise in recent years. It poses a variety of risks to both the mother and the child, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. The management of maternal obesity is a complex issue that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Midwives, as key members of the healthcare team, play a critical role in the care of pregnant women with obesity. Midwifery-led care is a model of care that emphasizes a woman-centered, individualized approach. It involves the provision of care by midwives, who are trained professionals in supporting women during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Midwifery-led care has been shown to result in better maternal and fetal outcomes and increased maternal satisfaction compared to traditional obstetric-led care.

Midwives play a crucial role in supporting women with obesity during pregnancy and childbirth. They provide individualized care, taking into account the unique needs of each woman. They also offer non-judgmental support, acknowledging the social and cultural factors that contribute to obesity. Midwives are well-positioned to educate women about healthy lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise and to help women make informed decisions about their care. However, the attitudes of healthcare providers, including midwives, towards maternal obesity can be a barrier to effective care. Studies have shown that some healthcare providers have negative attitudes towards obese women, which can lead to discrimination and a lack of appropriate care. Midwives need to recognize their biases and work towards providing unbiased, equitable care to all women, regardless of their size.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare providers, including midwives, are essential in providing quality care to women with obesity. Adequate training is needed to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in the care of women with obesity. This includes training in appropriate communication techniques, recognizing and managing comorbidities associated with obesity and understanding the impact of obesity on pregnancy and childbirth. Midwifery-led care is an effective model of care for pregnant women with obesity. It emphasizes a woman-centered, individualized approach that takes into account the unique needs of each woman. However, the attitudes of healthcare providers towards maternal obesity can be a barrier to effective care. Midwives need to recognize their biases and work towards providing unbiased, equitable care to all women. Adequate training is also needed to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in the care of women with obesity. With appropriate care, women with obesity can have healthy pregnancies and positive birth outcomes.

Midwives play a critical role in supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As trained professionals, midwives provide care that is woman-centered, holistic and individualized. However, when it comes to providing care to women with obesity, midwives' attitudes towards obesity can impact the quality of care they provide. Maternal obesity is a significant health concern that has been on the rise in recent years. It poses a variety of risks to both the mother and the child, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. The management of maternal obesity is a complex issue that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Midwives, as key members of the healthcare team, play a crucial role in the care of pregnant women with obesity.

Research has shown that midwives' attitudes towards obesity can impact the care they provide to women with obesity. Some midwives may have negative attitudes towards obese women, which can lead to discrimination and a lack of appropriate care. Negative attitudes can also affect communication between midwives and obese women, leading to misunderstandings and a breakdown in the patient-provider relationship. To provide effective care to women with obesity, midwives need to adopt an individualized and nonjudgmental approach. This approach involves recognizing the unique needs and circumstances of each woman and providing care that is sensitive to their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Midwives should also provide non-judgmental support and acknowledge the social and cultural factors that contribute to obesity.

Midwives can also help women with obesity make healthy lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise. They can provide information about healthy eating habits and refer women to appropriate resources such as nutritionists or exercise programs. Midwives can also help women set realistic goals for weight gain during pregnancy and provide support to achieve those goals. Additionally, midwives need to be aware of their biases and work towards providing unbiased, equitable care to all women, regardless of their size. Midwives should receive training to improve their knowledge and skills in the care of women with obesity. This training should focus on appropriate communication techniques, recognizing and managing comorbidities associated with obesity and understanding the impact of obesity on pregnancy and childbirth.

Midwives play a crucial role in the care of pregnant women with obesity. To provide effective care, midwives must adopt an individualized and nonjudgmental approach. They need to recognize the unique needs of each woman and provide care that is sensitive to their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Midwives also need to be aware of their biases and work towards providing unbiased, equitable care to all women. With appropriate care, women with obesity can have healthy pregnancies and positive birth outcomes. Midwives generally consider that clients with obesity can receive suitable care through midwifery-led services because of the personalized and non-discriminatory approach to care. However, there may be obstacles in delivering effective care to pregnancies impacted by obesity, which could be addressed through additional training for midwives and other obstetric care providers [1-5].

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

1. Murray-Davis, Beth, Elizabeth K Darling, Howard Berger and Nir Melamed, et al. "Midwives perceptions of managing pregnancies complicated by obesity: A mixed methods study." Midwifery 105 (2022): 103225.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

2. Rooney, Jane, Valerie Fleming, Clare Maxwell and Moira Lewitt. "International confederation of midwives 32nd icm virtual triennial congress-abstract book: icmbali-0046-negation in the childbearing continuum: An in-depth exploration of women’s narratives." In 32nd ICM Virtual Triennial Congress (2021).

Google Scholar

3. Gutman, Arlene, Tommy Harty, Keelin O Donoghue and Richard Greene, et al. "Perinatal mortality audits and reporting of perinatal deaths: Systematic review of outcomes and barriers." J Perinat Med (2022).

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

4. Zinßer, Laura Andrea. "Self-efficacy and its impact on the health behaviours during pregnancy." PhD diss, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (2021).

Google Scholar

5. Warriner, Sian. “The use of Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in pregnancy.’’ University of Surrey United Kingdom (2011).

Google Scholar, Indexed at