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Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and...
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Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—Second Edition

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition in Women".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 September 2024) | Viewed by 6874

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Megumi Haruna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Interests: developmental origins of health and disease; perinatal outcomes; maternal nutrition; prevention of low birth weight; early life nutrition, fetal growth and development; healthy lifestyle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—Second Edition" focuses on the importance of proper perinatal nutrition, physical activity, and optimal weight changes for improving the health of mothers, fetuses, newborns, and infants.

The specific objective is to determine how diet and physical activity during pregnancy, through appropriate weight gain, are related to pregnancy and birth outcomes, and to establish evidence for clinical guidelines and health guidance.

This Special Issue also covers the interaction between diet, physical activity, and weight retention with significant physical and emotional changes during postpartum, including breastfeeding.

In the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, prenatal/perinatal nutrition can be an environmental factor that determines the development of human diseases in adulthood.

Since pregnancy is an educational period for women to obtain healthy behavior, it is important to build evidence for health guidance during this time.

In this Special Issue, we aim to develop knowledge and summarize the present evidence on this topic for use in perinatal care to improve maternal and child health. Both original research and review articles are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Megumi Haruna
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breastfeeding
  • gestational weight gain
  • healthy eating
  • physical activity
  • postpartum weight retention
  • pregnancy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Experiences of Postpartum Follow-Up and Participation in a Lifestyle Intervention after Gestational Diabetes: A Qualitative Study
by Siri Ressem Gustavsen, Astrid Vatn Wensbakk, Heidi Linn Sandsæter and Julie Horn
Nutrients 2024, 16(20), 3487; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16203487 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1395
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk of future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but healthy lifestyle changes can prevent the development of these diseases. This study aimed to identify factors that can improve intervention programmes and postpartum support after [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk of future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but healthy lifestyle changes can prevent the development of these diseases. This study aimed to identify factors that can improve intervention programmes and postpartum support after gestational diabetes. Methods: Twenty-two women who had experienced gestational diabetes in Norway participated in in-depth interviews following a six-month intervention programme focusing on healthy lifestyle changes. Participants were included 3–12 months after giving birth. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were developed: (1) A status report on my health and lifestyle—crucial for recognising the need for change; (2) encouragement and cheering on: getting started and maintaining changes; (3) life’s challenging moments: looking after the baby and prioritising one’s own health; and (4) the first period with the newborn baby—a good time to make changes. Participants described maternity leave as a suitable time for lifestyle change. Adequate information about and insight into their health were important for success. The focus on small changes motivated them to improve their lifestyle. Participants emphasised individualised help, support from others, noticing an improvement and seeing a positive effect on their family members as motivational factors for maintaining the changes. However, they found it difficult to prioritise themselves and to maintain lifestyle changes in challenging life situations and transitional phases. Conclusions: The study findings can help support the development of future intervention programmes for women who have experienced gestational diabetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—Second Edition)
11 pages, 541 KiB  
Article
Maternal Breast Growth and Body Mass Index Are Associated with Low Milk Production in Women
by Xuehua Jin, Ching Tat Lai, Sharon L. Perrella, Jacki L. McEachran, Zoya Gridneva and Donna T. Geddes
Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172854 - 26 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
Background: Maternal breast volume is determined by the quantity of glandular and adipose tissue, and it undergoes significant changes during pregnancy. These changes are intricately linked to the development of glandular tissue, which most likely reflects lactation capacity. Evidence indicates that women with [...] Read more.
Background: Maternal breast volume is determined by the quantity of glandular and adipose tissue, and it undergoes significant changes during pregnancy. These changes are intricately linked to the development of glandular tissue, which most likely reflects lactation capacity. Evidence indicates that women with overweight or obesity exhibit larger breast volume compared to those with a normal body mass index (BMI), emphasizing the close relationship between breast volume and maternal adiposity. Hence, we aim to investigate breast volume growth and maternal BMI as potential risk factors for low milk production. Methods: Lactating women (n = 609) from the Perth metropolitan area in Western Australia between 2011 and 2023 were included in the analysis. Twenty-four-hour milk production measurements were conducted using the test weighing method, and milk removal frequencies were recorded. Mothers completed questionnaires regarding demographic, obstetric and infant details. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine maternal and infant factors associated with milk production. Results: Here we show that increasing maternal age and BMI are associated with low milk production. Moreover, larger pre-pregnancy breast volume and breast growth are associated with both higher BMI and milk production. Conclusions: Women who are older, have an obese BMI and who have minimal pre-pregnancy breast volume and breast growth should be provided with antenatal screening and breastfeeding support as they are more likely to experience low milk production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—Second Edition)
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10 pages, 495 KiB  
Article
Association of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acid Intake with Low Birth Weight in the Second Trimester: The Japan Pregnancy Eating and Activity Cohort Study
by Momoka Yoshimura, Megumi Fujita, Ai Shibata, Riko Ohori, Satoko Aoyama, Kaori Yonezawa, Yoko Sato, Satoshi Sasaki, Masayo Matsuzaki, Yoshiko Suetsugu and Megumi Haruna
Nutrients 2023, 15(22), 4831; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224831 - 18 Nov 2023
Viewed by 2426
Abstract
This study examined the association of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake during the second trimester with low birth weight (LBW) in pregnant Japanese women and was conducted in conjunction with the Japan Pregnancy Eating and Activity Cohort (J-PEACH) study. The [...] Read more.
This study examined the association of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake during the second trimester with low birth weight (LBW) in pregnant Japanese women and was conducted in conjunction with the Japan Pregnancy Eating and Activity Cohort (J-PEACH) study. The study included 504 pregnant women from four Japanese sites. During the second trimester (14–27 weeks), the participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire assessing the frequency of DHA and EPA supplement intake in the past month, as well as a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). The analysis involved data from two time points: responses to the BDHQ and infant data at birth. In total, 471 and 33 participants were classified into the normal birth weight and LBW groups, respectively. The participants were divided into high-, medium-, and low-intake groups based on their total dietary and EPA and DHA supplementary intakes. The Cochran–Armitage trend test was used to analyze the data; the prevalence of LBW was higher in the low-intake group (p = 0.04). There was no significant sex-based trend (p = 0.27 and p = 0.35). In Japanese women, low dietary and supplementary EPA and DHA intake until the second trimester were risk factors for LBW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight Changes among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—Second Edition)
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