Communication with health professionals: The views of pregnant women with a raised BMI

Background There is evidence that midwives may find discussions about weight difficult with pregnant women with a raised body mass index (BMI). In previous studies, pregnant women have reported a lack of information and negative experiences. Aim To explore the experiences of pregnant women with a raised BMI to investigate if their pregnancies were affected by their interactions with midwives and other health professionals. Methods Women (n=11) were interviewed using an standardised framework. The discussions were recorded and then transcribed. Thematic analysis was used. Findings Three themes emerged from the data: ‘feeling judged’, ‘knowledge gap’ and ‘doing your best’. Conclusion Pregnant women with a raised BMI can feel judged in their communications with midwives and other health professionals. They do not have the information necessary to make informed decisions on their care but they do their best to follow guidelines and have a healthy pregnancy.Accepted manuscript - 6 month embarg