Effects of Antenatal Lifestyle Interventions in Pregnant Women with Normal Body Mass Index

Abstract

Background: We aimed to explore the effect of lifestyle interventions on improving lifestyle behaviors on gestational weight gain in pregnant women with normal body mass index (BMI).
 Methods: The study was conducted in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province (Wuhan, China) between June 2020 and April 2022. A total of 355 pregnant women (<12 weeks of pregnancy) were enrolled and finally completed the program. Participants were divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received an individualized lifestyle intervention focusing on healthy lifestyle, like diet, exercise, and weight monitoring as four sessions at 16–18, 20–24, 28-30 and 34 weeks’ gestation. Participants in the control group received routine antenatal care. The weight of both group was recorded from pregnancy until 6-8 weeks postpartum.
 Results: The participants in the intervention group with normal pre-pregnancy BMI (n = 178) had lower GWG, excessive GWG, hypertension, and neonate birth weight compared to the control group (n = 177, P< 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of gestational diabetes, premature labor, delivery mode, preterm birth, small for gestational age, macrosomia, number of neonates referred to the NICU, and postpartum weight retention.
 Conclusion: Even though lifestyle intervention in pregnant women with normal BMI has a relatively limited effect, attention should still be paid to reasonable weight gain during pregnancy and the potential long-term impact of the intervention remains to be assessed.