Non-Adherence to Lifestyle Changes During Pregnancy, Essay Example

Signs of Non-Adherence

To date, a pregnant patient has elected not to follow the doctor’s recommendations and improve her eating habits during the second trimester. On many occasions, she openly shares that she is likely to consume fatty foods, fast food, and sugary soft drinks. As a result, she has gained 45 pounds and is in her 21^st week of pregnancy. The patient has made her regular doctor appointments but has largely ignored the nutritional advice that has been given. The patient’s weight gain is a concern for the doctor because the patient has a long way to go with her pregnancy until her delivery date. The student believes that it is in her best interest to gain additional knowledge regarding the patient and her current mindset regarding her diet and nutritional status in order to provide nutritional education in a comfortable setting where the patient does not feel threatened or lectured.

Impact of Non-Adherence

Poor nutritional habits that persist throughout pregnancy represent difficult challenges for many women. When they do not adhere to recommended guidelines regarding nutrition, there is a greater risk of morbidity and mortality as a result of excess weight or obesity (Brown & Avery, 2012).However, nutritional guidance is often ineffective or impersonal, which contributes to the poor response level in many women (Brown & Avery, 2012). For patients who do not adhere to dietary recommendations, there is a greater likelihood of reduced dietary quality that impacts pregnant women and the fetus, particularly during the first trimester (Moran et.al, 2013). Therefore, pregnant women with poor dietary behaviors are likely to gain excess weight and face a higher risk of comorbid conditions that could severely impact their health and the health of the fetus, from gestational diabetes to hypertension. Non-compliance with dietary recommendations, therefore, is a serious behavioral deficit with many complications.

Treatment and Management

Women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy often prefer individualized attention and focus in order to address nutrition more effectively (Brown & Avery, 2012). Education regarding nutritional behaviors during pregnancy is essential, as it enables pregnant women to make nutritional decisions that will have positive outcomes for their unborn children, as well as improved weight management and a reduced risk of pregnancy-related complications (Phelan, 2010). Understanding these risks will go a long way in improving pregnancy-related health, including monitoring weight gain to minimize health concerns (Phelan, 2010).

The reduction of obesity during pregnancy and excess gestational weight gain for patients is essential in order to prevent complications that include a higher risk of perinatal complications (Shub et.al, 2013).Women should be educated in order to recognize such factors as personal weight, body mass index, knowledge of the recommended guidelines regarding gestational weight gain, possible complications associated with excess gestational weight gain, and methods that are frequently used to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy (Shub et.al, 2013). These factors support an intervention or expanded education program that is designed to expand knowledge regarding nutrition during pregnancy (Shub et.al, 2013).

Pregnant women must maintain a healthy weight and also consume the appropriate types of foods in order to provide the best possible outcomes for their unborn children. This includes a proper nutritional balance and focus that will have a positive impact on the fetus. In addition, healthy nutrition will improve the balance of nutrients that are transmitted from mother to child throughout the pregnancy. The patient in question must understand the importance of nutrition and how it impacts her own health, as well as the health of her unborn child.

References

Brown, A., & Avery, A. (2012). Healthy weight management during pregnancy: what advice and information is being provided. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 25(4), 378-387.

Moran, L. J., Sui, Z., Cramp, C. S., & Dodd, J. M. (2013). A decrease in diet quality occurs during pregnancy in overweight and obese women which is maintained post-partum. International Journal of Obesity, 37(5), 704-711.

Phelan, S. (2010). Pregnancy: a “teachable moment” for weight control and obesity prevention. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 202(2), 135-e1.

Shub, A., Huning, E. Y., Campbell, K. J., & McCarthy, E. A. (2013). Pregnant women’s knowledge of weight, weight gain, complications of obesity and weight management strategies in pregnancy. BMC research notes, 6(1), 278.