Barriers to discussing gestational weight and eating disorders with perinatal women

Background/Aims Eating disorders are known to affect 8% of pregnant women worldwide and 1.5% of pregnancies in the UK. They are related to many obstetric adverse health outcomes such as preterm birth, stillbirth and small- or large-for-gestational age babies. Eating disorder rates are increasing across the UK annually, making it a public health concern. This literature review explored factors affecting midwives' and healthcare professionals' confidence in supporting perinatal women with an eating disorder. Methods A literature search was conducted using the SPIDER framework across four databases: CINAHL, Science Direct, PubMed (Medline) and PsycInfo. Publications from the last 10 years that explored nutrition, gestational weight gain and eating disorders in relation to healthcare professionals caring for perinatal women in the UK or countries with a similar healthcare system were critically appraised and selected for inclusion. Results Three themes emerged: conflicting role of the midwife, system constraints and communication. Conclusions The literature addresses the discomfort clinicians feel in discussing disordered eating behaviours and argued that governing bodies need to implement further resources and guidelines to support health promotion, without damaging the professional relationship. Implications for practice It is important to discuss nutrition and gestational weight gain in a positive manner to optimise women's health choices in pregnancy. This will encourage positive relationships with healthcare professionals and engagement with maternity care services.