Need to tackle obesity in pregnancy say midwives

Baby in the womb

Commenting on the publication today (21 May) of the British Nutrition Foundation’s (BNF) new Task Force Report, ‘Nutrition and Development: short- and long-term consequences for health’, Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: "We look forward to this report with great interest.

"We know that good nutrition is incredibly important to the health of the pregnant woman and her developing baby. Good nutrition in pregnancy can also have a significant impact on the health of the baby well into its adult life, and midwives are perfectly placed to stress the importance of a good diet before and during pregnancy.

"Obesity is without doubt a problem and can have detrimental effects in pregnancy. It is an issue we need to tackle and midwives have a key role to play in helping obese women in their care, to promote better health in their pregnancy and beyond. This is a public health role of the midwife that is often overlooked and under-recognised.

“We are desperately short of midwives in England and investment is needed in midwifery so that they can carry out this part of their work much more effectively, to the benefit of the public health of the nation.

“These findings also show the value of preconception care and midwives can provide this as part of their care after birth in readiness for later pregnancies.”

The RCM is working with the British Nutrition Foundation to help practitioners improve their nutrition knowledge. An online course on healthy eating around pregnancy, specifically produced by the BNF, is now available for RCM members.