Celebrity example unhelpful as weight becomes sizeable issue for new mums

Published on Sunday 14 November 2010 16:19

MOTHERS-TO-BE and those who have just had babies are lacking information on nutrition and weight gain, potentially putting their health at risk, while at the same time being bombarded with unhelpful messages from the world of celebrity.

Stars whose stomachs spring back to ironing-board dimensions within weeks of giving birth are putting pressure on Scottish mothers to lose their baby weight quickly, according to a new survey.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Netmums poll has found that mothers are under intense pressure over their weight but are not getting advice either before or after their babies are born about healthy eating, managing their weight or obesity issues.

Nearly six out of ten mothers - 57 per cent - said they felt that pictures of celebrity mums put pressure on them to lose their pregnancy weight quickly and 67 per cent said they felt anxiety about their weight post-birth.

The survey highlighted gaps in antenatal and postnatal care and has resulted in a plea for midwife-led, NHS-funded antenatal classes to weight management issues.

The RCM Scotland said that midwives currently find it "difficult" to raise the fact that women are overweight, but have admitted that the issue is reaching "epidemic" proportions.

In Scotland, 46.2 per of women rated themselves as "over what I would have liked to have weighed" or "overweight" when they became pregnant.

However, during their first antenatal appointment, 65 per cent said their midwife did not have enough time to discuss their concerns about weight management and nutrition.

Some 28 per cent of Scottish women said they ate more than normal during pregnancy and 8.8 per cent said they ate substantially more. And 87 per cent of new mothers in Scotland also rated the care they received from midwives regarding healthy eating and weight management as neutral, poor or very poor.

The survey also revealed that women who are overweight are less likely to have a natural birth.

Sally Russell, a co-founder of Netmums.com, said: "The results from this survey are clear cut and shocking: you are more likely to have a Caesarean, either elective or emergency, if you are already overweight before you become pregnant.

"Most women do have a normal vaginal delivery, but it is a wake-up call to midwives to support women better throughout their pregnancy and inform them of their options."

Gillian Smith, director of the UK board for RCM Scotland, said: "Some would describe obesity in pregnancy in Scotland as an epidemic. It is a difficult issue but it needs to be raised sensitively.

"We need more training for midwives and all health professionals and more public health information that starts before pregnancy."This isn't really about the baby - it's about the mum and her health. We know that postpartum haemorrhaging is higher in women who are obese and it could be a contributory factor in a range of maternal deaths."