Randomized controlled trial to prevent excessive weight gain in pregnant women. Preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy through dietary and lifestyle counseling: a randomized controlled trial. Randomized trial of a behavioral intervention to prevent excessive gestational weight gain: the Fit for Delivery Study. Reducing excessive weight gain in pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial. [Impact of a dietary counseling program on the gain weight speed of pregnant women attended in a primary care service]. A diet and physical activity intervention for preventing weight retention among Taiwanese childbearing women: a randomised controlled trial. Effect of lifestyle intervention on dietary habits, physical activity, and gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial. Reducing postpartum weight retention through a correspondence intervention. Aiming to increase birth weight: a randomised trial of pre-pregnancy information, advice and counselling in inner-urban Melbourne. Perinatal outcomes in nutritionally monitored obese pregnant women: a randomized clinical trial. A randomised trial of a four-step multidisciplinary approach to the antenatal care of obese pregnant women. A randomised controlled trial of dietary energy restriction in the management of obese women with gestational diabetes. A family-based approach to preventing excessive weight gain. Feasibility of a lifestyle intervention in early pregnancy to prevent deterioration of glucose tolerance. Computer-assisted self-interview and nutrition education in pregnant teens. A randomized trial of the effects of dietary counseling on gestational weight gain and glucose metabolism in obese pregnant women. Nutrition during pregnancy: the effects of an educational intervention program in Greece. A randomized trial of an empirically-derived social support intervention to prevent low birthweight among African American women. Prevention of gestational diabetes: feasibility issues for an exercise intervention in obese pregnant women. Interventions to increase the duration of breastfeeding in obese mothers: the Bassett Improving Breastfeeding Study. Improving diet and exercise in pregnancy with Video Doctor counseling: a randomized trial. Effects of a low-glycemic load diet in overweight and obese pregnant women: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Primary prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus and large-for-gestational-age newborns by lifestyle counseling: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. A randomized controlled trial of a smoking cessation intervention during pregnancy. A randomized trial of nurse-midwifery prenatal care to reduce low birth weight. Psychosocial support for maternal stress during pregnancy: effect on birth weight. A randomized trial of psychosocial support during high-risk pregnancies. The Latin American Network for Perinatal and Reproductive Research.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that normal-weight women (BMI (body mass index) of 19.8-26.0) gain 25-35 lb (11.4-15.9 kg) during pregnancy, and that overweight women (BMI of 26.1-29.0) gain 15-25 lbs (6.8-11.4 kg). A significant number of normal-weight women and an even greater proportion of overweight women exceed these guidelines, which increases postpartum weight retention and may contribute to the development of obesity.
                To determine whether a stepped care, behavioral intervention will decrease the percentage of women who gain more than the IOM recommendation.
                Randomized controlled trial comparing a stepped-care behavioral intervention with usual care. Women (n=120) who had a BMI>19.8, age>18 and <20 weeks gestation were recruited from a hospital-based clinic serving low-income women and randomized by race and BMI category to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received education about weight gain, healthy eating, and exercise and individual graphs of their weight gain. Those exceeding weight gain goals were given more intensive intervention. Women were followed through pregnancy to their first postpartum clinic visit. The main outcome measure was weight gain during pregnancy categorized as above the IOM recommendations vs below or within the IOM recommendations.
                The intervention significantly decreased the percentage of normal-weight women who exceeded the IOM recommendations (33 vs 58%, P<0.05). There was a non-significant (P=0.09) effect in the opposite direction among overweight women (59% of intervention and 32% of control gained more than recommended). Postpartum weight retention was strongly related to weight gain during pregnancy (r=0.89).
                The intervention reduced excessive weight gain during pregnancy among normal weight women. To estimate whether an organized, consistent program of dietary and lifestyle counseling prevents excessive weight gain in pregnancy.
                This randomized controlled trial assigned women to receive either an organized, consistent program of intensive dietary and lifestyle counseling or routine prenatal care. The primary study outcome was the proportion of patients whose gestational weight gain was within the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. Secondary outcomes included mode of delivery, rate of operative vaginal delivery, neonatal weight, and the incidence of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), vaginal/perineal lacerations, and shoulder dystocia.
                A total of 100 women were randomized to the study (lifestyle counseling 57, routine prenatal care 43). Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between the study groups. The lifestyle counseling group gained significantly less weight than did the routine prenatal care group (28.7+/-12.5 lb compared with 35.6+/-15.5 lb, P=.01). The routine prenatal care group had significantly more cesarean deliveries due to "failure to progress" (routine prenatal care 58.3% compared with lifestyle counseling 25.0%, P=.02). Across groups, patients who were not adherent to the IOM guidelines had significantly heavier neonates (adherent 3,203.2+/-427.2 g compared with not adherent 3,517.4+/-572.4 g, P<.01). Nulliparous women gained significantly more weight than did parous women (36.5+/-14.5 lb compared with 27.7+/-12.7 lb, P<.01). The most predictive factor of IOM adherence was having a normal prepregnancy body mass index. No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups in adherence to IOM guidelines, rate of cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, GDM, operative vaginal delivery, or vaginal lacerations.
                An organized, consistent program of dietary and lifestyle counseling did reduce weight gain in pregnancy.
                ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00792480
                I. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is a major risk factor for postpartum weight retention and future weight gain and obesity in women, but few adequately powered randomized controlled trials have examined the efficacy of a behavioral weight-control intervention during pregnancy.
                This study examined whether a behavioral intervention during pregnancy could decrease the proportion of women who exceeded the 1990 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for gestational weight gains and increase the proportion of women who returned to pregravid weights by 6 mo postpartum.
                This study was a randomized, assessor-blind, controlled trial. Participants were pregnant (13.5 wk gestation), normal-weight (NW; n = 201) and overweight or obese (OW/OB; n = 200) women whose average age was 28.8 y. Participants were randomly assigned within the 1990 IOM weight category (NW compared with OW/OB) to standard care (n = 200) or to a behavioral intervention to prevent excessive gestational weight gain (n = 201). The intervention included one face-to-face visit; weekly mailed materials that promoted an appropriate weight gain, healthy eating, and exercise; individual graphs of weight gain; and telephone-based feedback. The retention at the 6-mo postpartum assessment was 82%.
                Intent-to-treat analyses showed that the intervention, compared with standard care, decreased the percentage of NW women who exceeded IOM recommendations (40.2% compared with 52.1%; P = 0.003) and increased the percentages of NW and OW/OB women who returned to their pregravid weights or below by 6 mo postpartum (30.7% compared with 18.7%; P = 0.005).
                A low-intensity behavioral intervention during pregnancy reduced excessive gestational weight gains in NW women and prevented postpartum weight retention in NW and OW/OB women. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01117961. To determine if regular weight measurement throughout pregnancy can reduce excessive gestational weight gain.
                A randomised controlled trial.
                A tertiary obstetric hospital in Melbourne, between July 2007 and May 2008.
                236 pregnant women recruited at < or = 14 weeks' gestation.
                Women allocated to the intervention group were given a personalised weight measurement card, advised of their optimal gestational weight gain (based on their body mass index at the time of recruitment and the United States Institute of Medicine guidelines), and instructed to record their weight at 16, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32 and 34 weeks' gestation. The control group were weighed at recruitment, but were not given instructions about regular weight measurement. All participants were blinded to the purpose of the study.
                Weight gain from recruitment to follow-up at 36 weeks' gestation.
                In the study population, there was a trend to less weight gain in the intervention group. The women in the intervention group experienced a mean (SD) per-week weight gain of 0.44 (0.173) kg compared with those in the control group, who gained 0.46 (0.156) kg/week (mean difference, 0.02 kg/week; 95% CI, - 0.02 to 0.07 kg/week). The intervention significantly reduced gestational weight gain in the group of women who were overweight but not obese at recruitment: those in the intervention group (20 women) gained a mean (SD) of 0.42 (0.153) kg/week and the control group (18 women) gained 0.54 (0.123) kg/week (mean difference, 0.12 kg/week; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.22 kg/week; P = 0.01).
                Regular weight measurement in pregnancy was not found to be effective in reducing weight gain, except among women who were overweight but not obese before pregnancy.
                Australian Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12607000272493. to evaluate the impact of dietary counseling on controlling weight gain in pregnant women, who were served in a public health service facility.
                the study was conducted at a known health unit located in the metropolitan region of the city of Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Three hundred and fifteen pregnant women between the 10th and 29th week of gestation were randomized to Control and Intervention Groups. The Intervention Group received dietary counseling according to nutritional status, and pregnant women in the Control Group were instructed to follow the routine of the health service facility. Weight and height were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The pre-gestational nutritional status was determined according to the following BMI criteria: low weight (<18.5 kg/m²), eutrophy (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25.0 to 29.9 kg/m²), and obesity (>30 kg/m²). The nutritional status during pregnancy was determined according to the BMI curve for gestational age adopted by the Health Ministry of Brazil. Data were analyzed by the relative risk and respective 95% confidence interval, and by the Student's t-test and χ2 test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
                the assessment of nutritional status before pregnancy showed that 28.0% of the women were overweight and 4.1% were underweight. In the first and last interview during pregnancy, the rates of prevalence of excessive weight were 36.2 and 46.0%, respectively. The intervention proved to be effective in reducing the rate of weekly weight gain of pregnant women with excess weight (342.2 versus 420.2; p=0.015) and the prevalence of clinical complications (9.2 versus 24.85; p<0.001).
                dietary counseling was effective in decreasing the weight gain of pregnant women who were overweight and reducing clinical complications, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, infant low weight, and prematurity in the Intervention Group. to examine the effect of individual counselling on diet and physical activity from pregnancy to six months post partum, or from birth to six months post partum, on weight retention among Taiwanese women.
                a randomised controlled trial assigned participants to two experimental groups [from pregnancy to six months post partum (EP) and from birth to six months post partum (EPP)] and one comparison group.
                a 3900-bed medical centre in northern Taiwan with around 3000 births annually.
                a sample of 189 women who had regular check-ups during pregnancy and gave birth at the medical centre.
                the comparison group received the routine outpatient department obstetric educational programme. The EP group attended regularly scheduled clinic visits with individualised dietary and physical activity education plans from 16 gestational weeks to six months post partum, and received on brochure. The EPP group received the same educational intervention as the EP group from 24-48 hours after birth to six months post partum.
                body weight, body mass index, health-promoting behaviour and psycho-social variables (self-efficacy, body image, depression and social support).
                average gestational weight gain was 14.02, 15.27 and 16.22 kg in the three EP, EPP and comparison groups respectively, and average weight retention at six months post partum was 2.34, 4.06 and 5.08 kg in the three groups, respectively.
                a diet and physical activity intervention from pregnancy is effective for reducing post-pregnancy weight retention.
                the findings of the present study should be taken into consideration when incorporating significant others and weight-loss maintenance strategies with interventions for a healthier family lifestyle.
                Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are major short- and long-term risk factors for maternal and fetal complications.
                The objective was to study whether a lifestyle intervention based on a brochure or on active education can improve dietary habits, increase physical activity (PA), and reduce GWG in obese pregnant women.
                In this randomized controlled trial, 195 white, obese pregnant women [age: 29 + or - 4 y; body mass index (in kg/m(2)); 33.6 + or - 4.2] were randomly assigned into 3 groups: a group that received nutritional advice from a brochure, a group that received the brochure and lifestyle education by a nutritionist, and a control group. Nutritional habits were evaluated every trimester through 7-d food records. PA was evaluated with the Baecke questionnaire.
                Energy intake did not change during pregnancy and was comparable in all groups. Fat intake, specifically saturated fat intake, decreased and protein intake increased from the first to the third trimester in the passive and active groups compared with an opposite change in the control group. Calcium intake and vegetable consumption increased during pregnancy in all groups. PA decreased in all groups, especially in the third trimester. No significant differences in GWG and obstetrical or neonatal outcome could be observed between the groups.
                Both lifestyle interventions improved the nutritional habits of obese women during pregnancy. Neither PA nor GWG was affected. Since post-pregnancy weight retention may contribute to the development of obesity, we sought to determine whether a behavioral weight loss intervention was effective in returning women to their pre-pregnancy weight.
                Ninety women who had given birth in the past 3-12 months and whose weight exceeded their pre-pregnancy weight by at least 6.8 kg were randomly assigned to either: a) a six-month behavioral weight loss intervention, delivered via correspondence or b) a no-treatment control group. Assessments of body weight, physical activity and eating patterns were conducted at pre-treatment and six months (post-treatment).
                During the six month treatment, subjects in the correspondence condition lost significantly more weight than control subjects (7.8 kg vs 4.9 kg, P = 0.03) and lost a greater percentage of their excess postpartum weight (79% vs 44%, P = 0.01). Furthermore, a significantly greater percentage of correspondence subjects than controls returned to their pre-pregnancy weight (33% vs 11.5%, P < 0.05). Weight loss in the correspondence group was correlated with completion of self-monitoring records (r = 0.50, P < 0.005).
                A behavioral weight loss intervention, delivered via correspondence, appears to be effective in reducing women's postpartum weight retention. Future studies should examine the acceptability and the long-term impact of a correspondence postpartum weight loss intervention. In the 1980s there was substantial interest in early pregnancy and pre-pregnancy interventions to increase birth weight and reduce preterm birth. We developed an inter-pregnancy intervention, implemented in a randomised controlled trial, to be provided by midwives at home soon after women's first birth.
                MCH nurses invited women to take part during their home visit to new mothers. Women's contact details, with their permission, were passed to the study midwife. She had a randomisation schedule to which women's names were added before she met the women or their partners. All women recruited had a home visit from the study midwife with a discussion of their first pregnancy, labour and birth and the postpartum experience. Women in the intervention arm received in addition a pre-pregnancy intervention with discussion of social, health or lifestyle problems, preparation and timing for pregnancy, family history, rubella immunisation, referrals for health problems, and a reminder card. The primary outcome was defined as a birth weight difference in the second birth of 100 g (one-sided) in favour of the intervention. Additional data collected were gestational age, perinatal deaths and birth defects. Analyses used EPI-INFO and STATA.
                Intervention and comparison groups were comparable on socioeconomic factors, prior reproductive history and first birth outcomes. Infant birth weight in the second birth was lower (-97.4 g,)) among infants in the intervention arm. There were no significant differences between intervention and comparison arms in the proportion of women having a preterm birth, an infant with low birthweight, or an infant with a birth weight <10th percentile. There were more adverse outcomes in the intervention arm: ten births <32 weeks), compared with one in standard care, and more infants with a birth weight <2000 g, 16 compared with two in standard care
                As the primary outcome was envisaged to be either improved birth weight or no effect, the study was not designed to identify the alternative outcome with confidence. Despite widespread support for pre-pregnancy interventions to improve maternal and perinatal health, this first randomised controlled trial of a multi-component intervention provided at home, did not have a beneficial outcome. Although obesity in pregnancy continues to be associated with ongoing health problems, many clinicians have been reluctant to place nondiabetic, obese, pregnant women on a monitored, calorie-appropriate nutritional regimen for fear of fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, or starvation ketosis.
                A total of 257 patients were enrolled in the randomized study, with a loss-to-follow-up rate of 9.73%. Patients were assigned randomly to either the control (unmonitored) group (n=116), consisting of conventional prenatal dietary management, or to the study (monitored) group (n=116), which was prescribed a balanced nutritional regimen and were asked to record in a diary all of the foods eaten during each day. Women were eligible for the study if they were pregnant with a single fetus between 12 and 28 weeks of gestation and had a prepregnancy body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2. The primary outcome was to compare perinatal outcomes in the control vs the study groups. The secondary measure was to compare outcomes in adherent and nonadherent patients in the study group.
                Omnibus MANOVA showed statistically significant differences between the study and control groups regarding 3 variables: (1) gestational hypertension, p < .46; (2) mother's last weight before delivery, p < .001; and (3) mother's 6-week postpartum weight, p < .001. Patients gaining 15 pounds or more during their pregnancy showed statistically significant differences between the groups for 8 variables.
                Obese pregnant women may be placed on a healthy, well-balanced, monitored nutritional program during their antepartum course without adverse perinatal outcomes. Obesity is common in pregnancy and results in morbidity to mother and newborn.
                  To evaluate whether a four-step multidisciplinary protocol of antenatal care for overweight and obese women would reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes.
                 Pregnant women were approached at their first antenatal visit, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated to determine whether they were overweight or obese (BMI > 25). Eligible women were randomised to standard obstetric antenatal care or four-step multidisciplinary antenatal care. Clinic protocol included (i) continuity of obstetric provider; (ii) weighing on arrival at each visit; (iii) a five brief minute intervention by a food technologist who asked about the women's eating habits of the previous day, provided information on reading food labels, shopping lists of affordable foods available from local shops and recipes for a healthy pregnancy diet; and (iv) clinical psychology management to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety, stressful life events and determine whether psychological factors were involved in eating patterns. Labour and delivery data were audited from the medical records to determine the final incidence of gestational diabetes. The primary outcomes were gestational diabetes and weight gain.
                 The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of gestational diabetes (6 versus 29%, OR 0.17 95% CI 0.03-0.95, P = 0.04). It was also associated with reduced weight gain in pregnancy (7.0 versus 13.8 kg, P < 0.0001). Despite this, birthweight of newborns was similar [3.5 (0.1) kg versus 3.4 (0.1) kg P = 0.16].
                  A four-step management plan adopted with obese women reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes.
                © 2011 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. A randomised controlled trial was designed to determine the effect of moderate 30% maternal dietary energy restriction on the requirement for maternal insulin therapy and the incidence of macrosomia in gestational diabetes. Although the control group restricted their intake to a level similar to that of the intervention group (6,845 kiloJoules (kJ) versus 6,579 kJ), the resulting cohort could not identify any adverse effect of energy restriction in pregnancy. Energy restriction did not alter the frequency of insulin therapy (17.5% in the intervention group and 16.9% in the control group). Mean birthweight (3,461 g in the intervention group and 3,267 g in the control group) was not affected. There was a trend in the intervention group towards later gestational age at commencement of insulin therapy (33 weeks versus 31 weeks) and lower maximum daily insulin dose (23 units versus 60 units) which did not reach statistical significance. Energy restriction did not cause an increase in ketonemia. Preventing weight gain in adults and excessive weight gain in children is a high priority. We evaluated the ability of a family-based program aimed at increasing steps and cereal consumption (for breakfast and snacks) to reduce weight gain in children and adults.
                Families (n = 105) with at least one 8- to 12-year-old child who was at-risk-for-overweight or overweight (designated as the target child) were recruited for the study. Eighty-two families were randomly assigned to receive the family-based intervention and 23 families to the control condition. The 13-week intervention consisted of specific increases in daily steps (an additional 2000 steps/d) and consumption of 2 servings/d of ready-to-eat cereal.
                The intervention was successful in increasing walking (steps) and cereal consumption. The intervention had positive, significant effects on percentage BMI-for-age and percentage body fat for target children and weight, BMI, and percentage body fat for parents. On further analysis, the positive effects of the intervention were seen largely in target girls and moms, rather than in target boys and dads.
                This family-based weight gain prevention program based on small changes holds promise for reducing excessive weight gain in families and especially in growing overweight children. In conjunction with the growing prevalence of obesity and the older age of pregnant women gestational diabetes (GDM) is a major health problem.The aim of the study was to evaluate if a lifestyle intervention since early pregnancy is feasible in improving the glucose tolerance of women at a high-risk for GDM in Finland.
                A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in early pregnancy (n = 102). Women at high risk for GDM (n = 54) were randomized at weeks 8-12 from Apr 2005 to May 2006 to a lifestyle intervention group (n = 27) or to a close follow-up group (n = 27). An OGTT was performed again at weeks 26-28 for the lifestyle intervention and close follow-up groups.
                The values of the OGTT during the second trimester did not differ between the lifestyle intervention and close follow-up groups. In the lifestyle intervention group three women had GDM in the second trimester and respectively one woman in the close follow up group. Insulin therapy was not required in both groups. The intervention resulted in somewhat lower weight gain 11.4 ± 6.0 kg vs. 13.9 ± 5.1 kg, p = 0.062, adjusted by the prepregnancy weight.
                Early intervention with an OGTT and simple lifestyle advice is feasible. A more intensive lifestyle intervention did not offer additional benefits with respect to glucose tolerance, although it tended to ameliorate the weight gain.
                ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01130012. The purpose of this study was to conduct computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) nutrition assessment in a pregnant, adolescent African American population to compare the effect of a nutrition education intervention with the standard dietitian consult on gestational weight gain patterns and postpartum weight retention. Control group (n = 24) and experimental group (n = 22) data obtained from the nutritional assessment and measurement of gestational weight gain/postpartum weight retention patterns were compared during the second trimester, third trimester, and 6 weeks postpartum to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The experimental group gained signficantly less weight during the first and second trimesters than the control group. During the third trimester gestational weight gain was significantly higher for the experimental group. Postpartum weight retention was signifcantly higher for the control group. There were no significant differences between maternal characteristics of the two groups. Fat content and daily caloric content of participants in the control group were significantly higher than the experimental group. Can gestational weight gain in obese women be restricted by 10-h dietary consultations and does this restriction impact the pregnancy-induced changes in glucose metabolism?
                A randomized controlled trial with or without restriction of gestational weight gain to 6-7 kg by ten 1-h dietary consultations.
                Fifty nondiabetic nonsmoking Caucasian obese pregnant women were randomized into intervention group (n=23, 28+/-4 years, prepregnant body mass index (BMI) 35+/-4 kg m(-2)) or control group (n=27, 30+/-5 years, prepregnant BMI 35+/-3 kg m(-2)).
                The weight development was measured at inclusion (15 weeks), at 27 weeks, and 36 weeks of gestation. The dietary intakes were reported in the respective weeks by three 7-day weighed food records and blood samples for analyses of fasting s-insulin, s-leptin, b-glucose, and 2-h b-glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test were collected.
                The women in the intervention group successfully limited their energy intake, and restricted the gestational weight gain to 6.6 kg vs a gain of 13.3 kg in the control group (P=0.002, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6-10.8 kg). Both s-insulin and s-leptin were reduced by 20% in the intervention group compared to the control group at week 27, mean difference: -16 pmol l(-1) (P=0.04, 95% CI: -32 to -1) for insulin and -23 ng ml(-1) (P=0.004, 95% CI: -39 to -8) for leptin. At 36 weeks of gestation, the s-insulin was further reduced by 23%, -25 pmol l(-1) (-47 to -4, P=0.022) and the fasting b-glucose were reduced by 8% compared with the control group (-0.3 mmol l(-1), -0.6 to -0.0, P=0.03).
                Restriction of gestational weight gain in obese women is achievable and reduces the deterioration in the glucose metabolism. An intervention program was undertaken to assess dietary habits and the impact of nutrition education among pregnant women in the rural county of Florina, northern Greece. Analysis of dietary habits, nutrient intake, hemoglobin, and serum vitamin concentrations in an intervention and control group indicated that the population was adequately nourished although nutrient intake was below recommended levels for pregnant women. Nutrition counseling was associated with improvements in dietary intake and significantly greater maternal weight gain (p less than 0.05). Mean birth weight was slightly higher in the intervention group but so was the incidence of low birth weight (4.5% vs 3.9%). The prematurity rate was marginally lower in the intervention group (p less than 0.04), as was the number of perinatal deaths (9 vs 11). The results indicate that nutrition counseling during pregnancy can improve dietary intake and maternal weight gain but the mediating influence on low frequency pregnancy outcomes is indeterminate in a population that is not nutritionally at risk. Previous clinical trials of social support interventions to reduce low birthweight (LBW) have not fully capitalized on findings from social science research, and therefore have not used empirically-derived criteria to define a low social support population or to develop the intervention. To overcome limitations of previous studies, this randomized clinical trial tested the hypothesis that an empirically-derived social support intervention would reduce LBW among African American women. Based on prior work, African American women were identified as at-risk for LBW due to inadequate social support if they lacked support from their mothers or male partners. Focus groups were used in this study to develop a culturally-relevant intervention. Adult low-income African American pregnant women (n = 319) were tested for inadequate social support in mid-pregnancy. Of these, 114 (36%) low-support women were identified and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 56) or control group (n = 58). The intervention was designed to provide the support usually provided by the pregnant woman's mother or male partner. It consisted of four standardized face-to-face sessions at two week intervals and telephone contact in the intervening weeks. Birthweight was obtained blinded from charts or birth certificates, with 99% follow-up. The rate of LBW (below 2500 grams) was 9.1% in the intervention group compared to 22.4% in the control group (P < 0.05). Contrary to previous studies, this social support intervention was effective in reducing the rate of LBW. It is promising that this intervention was successful for African Americans because the rate of LBW is twice as high among African Americans than among Caucasians. To examine the feasibility of an individualized exercise program to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in obese pregnant women.
                The study was a pilot randomized controlled trial with obese pregnant women (intervention group, individualized exercise program [n = 25]; control group, usual care [n = 25]). Average weekly energy expenditure (MET hours per week and kilocalories per week) of exercise-specific activity was assessed during pregnancy using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Fasting glucose and insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed at baseline and 20, 28, and 36 weeks' gestation.
                Of the women in the intervention group, 16 of 22 (73%) achieved more than 900 kcal/week of exercise-based activity at 28 weeks compared with 8 of 19 women in the control group (42%), P = 0.047. However, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) did not differ between the groups.
                This intervention was feasible and prompted a modest increase in physical activity. However, we are not confident that this intervention would be sufficient to prevent GDM. Maternal obesity is associated with poor breastfeeding outcomes, yet no intervention has been developed to improve them. To ascertain whether increased breastfeeding support or provision of a breast pump is a feasible, effective intervention to improve breastfeeding, we enrolled obese women who intended to breastfeed in two randomized trials.
                In Bassett Improving Breastfeeding Study (BIBS) 1, 40 women received targeted breastfeeding support in the hospital and via telephone or usual care. Information regarding breastfeeding was collected via telephone for 7 days after delivery and at 30 and 90 days postpartum. In BIBS 2, 34 obese mothers received a manual or electric breast pump to use for 10-14 days or no pump; data collection was similar.
                In both experiments, randomization failed to distribute women of differing postpartum body mass index adequately among the treatment groups. When analyses were adjusted for this, there was no difference in BIBS 1 between targeted and usual care groups and in BIBS 2 among the treatment groups in the proportion of women still breastfeeding at the times studied.
                In future studies of obese women, stratified randomization may be necessary. Further development of interventions to help obese women achieve optimal breastfeeding outcomes is required. To determine if an interactive, computerized Video Doctor counseling tool improves self-reported diet and exercise in pregnant women.
                A randomized trial comparing a Video Doctor intervention to usual care in ethnically diverse, low-income, English-speaking pregnant women was conducted. Brief messages about diet, exercise, and weight gain were delivered by an actor-portrayed Video Doctor twice during pregnancy.
                In the Video Doctor group (n=158), there were statistically significant increases from baseline in exercise (+28 min), intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, avocado and nuts, and significant decreases in intake of sugary foods, refined grains, high fat meats, fried foods, solid fats, and fast food. In contrast, there were no changes from baseline for any of these outcomes in the usual care group (n=163). Nutrition knowledge improved significantly over time in both groups but more so in the Video Doctor group. Clinician-patient discussions about these topics occurred significantly more frequently in the Video Doctor group. There was no difference in weight gain between groups.
                A brief Video Doctor intervention can improve exercise and dietary behaviors in pregnant women.
                The Video Doctor can be integrated into prenatal care to assist clinicians with effective diet and exercise counseling.
                Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. The optimal diet for pregnancy that is complicated by excessive weight is unknown.
                We aimed to examine the effects of a low-glycemic load (low-GL) diet in overweight and obese pregnant women.
                We randomly assigned 46 overweight or obese pregnant women to receive a low-GL or a low-fat diet. Participants received carbohydrate-rich foods, fats, and snack foods through home delivery or study visits. The primary outcome was birth weight z score. Other endpoints included infant anthropometric measurements, gestational duration, maternal weight gain, and maternal metabolic parameters.
                There were no significant differences in birth weight z score or other measures of infant adiposity between groups. However, in the low-GL compared with the low-fat group, gestational duration was longer (mean ± SD: 39.3 ± 1.1 compared with 37.9 ± 3.1 wk; P = 0.05) and fewer deliveries occurred at ≤ 38.0 wk (13% compared with 48%, P = 0.02; with exclusion of planned cesarean deliveries: 5% compared with 53%; P = 0.002). Adjusted head circumference was greater in the low-GL group (35.0 ± 0.8 compared with 34.2 ± 1.3 cm, P = 0.01). Women in the low-GL group had smaller increases in triglycerides [median (interquartile range): 49 (19, 70) compared with 93 (34, 129) mg/dL; P = 0.03] and total cholesterol [13 (0, 36) compared with 33 (22, 56) mg/dL, P = 0.04] and a greater decrease in C-reactive protein [-2.5 (-5.5, -0.7) compared with -0.4 (-1.4, 1.5) mg/dL, P = 0.007].
                A low-GL diet resulted in longer pregnancy duration, greater infant head circumference, and improved maternal cardiovascular risk factors. Large-scale studies are warranted to evaluate whether dietary intervention during pregnancy aimed at lowering GL may be useful in the prevention of prematurity and other adverse maternal and infant outcomes. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00364403. Our objective was to examine whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or newborns' high birthweight can be prevented by lifestyle counseling in pregnant women at high risk of GDM.
                We conducted a cluster-randomized trial, the NELLI study, in 14 municipalities in Finland, where 2,271 women were screened by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 8-12 wk gestation. Euglycemic (n = 399) women with at least one GDM risk factor (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m(2), glucose intolerance or newborn's macrosomia (≥ 4,500 g) in any earlier pregnancy, family history of diabetes, age ≥ 40 y) were included. The intervention included individual intensified counseling on physical activity and diet and weight gain at five antenatal visits. Primary outcomes were incidence of GDM as assessed by OGTT (maternal outcome) and newborns' birthweight adjusted for gestational age (neonatal outcome). Secondary outcomes were maternal weight gain and the need for insulin treatment during pregnancy. Adherence to the intervention was evaluated on the basis of changes in physical activity (weekly metabolic equivalent task (MET) minutes) and diet (intake of total fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, saccharose, and fiber). Multilevel analyses took into account cluster, maternity clinic, and nurse level influences in addition to age, education, parity, and prepregnancy BMI. 15.8% (34/216) of women in the intervention group and 12.4% (22/179) in the usual care group developed GDM (absolute effect size 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71-2.62, p = 0.36). Neonatal birthweight was lower in the intervention than in the usual care group (absolute effect size -133 g, 95% CI -231 to -35, p = 0.008) as was proportion of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns (26/216, 12.1% versus 34/179, 19.7%, p = 0.042). Women in the intervention group increased their intake of dietary fiber (adjusted coefficient 1.83, 95% CI 0.30-3.25, p = 0.023) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (adjusted coefficient 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.57, p < 0.001), decreased their intake of saturated fatty acids (adjusted coefficient -0.63, 95% CI -1.12 to -0.15, p = 0.01) and intake of saccharose (adjusted coefficient -0.83, 95% CI -1.55 to -0.11, p  =  0.023), and had a tendency to a smaller decrease in MET minutes/week for at least moderate intensity activity (adjusted coefficient 91, 95% CI -37 to 219, p = 0.17) than women in the usual care group. In subgroup analysis, adherent women in the intervention group (n = 55/229) had decreased risk of GDM (27.3% versus 33.0%, p = 0.43) and LGA newborns (7.3% versus 19.5%, p = 0.03) compared to women in the usual care group.
                The intervention was effective in controlling birthweight of the newborns, but failed to have an effect on maternal GDM.
                Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN33885819. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary. This study was a randomized controlled trial of a smoking cessation intervention for pregnant smokers. Women who reported smoking at their first antenatal visit and satisfied the inclusion criteria were asked to participate in the trial. Analysis was restricted to 393 evaluable women in the control group (received usual antenatal care) and 339 women to the study group (received usual antenatal care plus the intervention). The primary hypotheses were that the intervention would result in a higher proportion of quitters and that the mean birth-weight of babies born to women receiving the intervention would be greater than that of babies born to women in the control group. The outcome measures were smoking status based on self-report combined with a urinary cotinine level of <115 ng/mL, and birth-weight. There was no significant difference in quit rate between women receiving the intervention and women in the control group (11.9% versus 9.8% p=0.41). Babies born to women receiving the intervention were on average 84 g heavier than babies born to controls (p=0.04). The factors that contribute to the lack of a significant increase in smoking cessation in the intervention group and the possible explanation for the changes in birth-weight are discussed. In a randomized, controlled trial in five regional centers with state health department clinics, 1458 women at high risk for low birth weight (LBW) outcome received either prenatal interventions provided by nurse-midwives and nurses under their supervision or the standard high-risk prenatal care provided by obstetricians. The intervention administered by the nurse-midwives included patient education to identify the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, activity counseling in response to monitoring of the cervix by frequent examinations, stress reduction by enhancing social support, nutrition counseling with emphasis on weight gain, and substance-abuse counseling. For women in the control group, care was provided by obstetricians according to local standards for the management of high-risk pregnancies. We hypothesized that the LBW rate among live births to women who had received care from nurse-midwives would be lower than that in the control group. Although the LBW rate was lower in the intervention group than in the control group, the observed difference was not statistically significant. Race was not prespecified as a possible effect modifier, but examination of the data post hoc suggested that black women at high statistical risk of giving birth to an LBW infant may have derived benefit from the program. Although the results do not suggest any striking advantage of the nurse-midwifery intervention over standard obstetric care for women at high statistical risk of having an LBW infant, neither do they suggest any disadvantage. Nurse-midwives could provide care to certain populations of high-risk women and facilitate future coverage of these presently underserved populations. In a previous study we showed that moderate to severe stress during pregnancy was inversely related to infant birth weight. Using the same criteria for stress (according to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale of Holmes and Rahe), we studied 86 white mothers with singleton pregnancies and with no known medical or obstetric risk factors for reduced birth weight. After strict randomization, data were analyzed for 43 mothers who received psychosocial support between enrollment at +/- 20 weeks and delivery at +/- 38 weeks and for 43 control mothers who received standard care at the antenatal clinic. In the supported group seven infants weighed less than 3000 gm at birth versus 18 control infants (p = 0.008), and analysis revealed that this effect was more the result of improved intrauterine growth than of prolongation of pregnancy. These findings are of little clinical relevance as far as the neonate is concerned, but they do indicate that psychosocial support has a significant effect on birth weight. It is possible that previous studies that have looked only for an effect on low- or very-low-birth-weight rates might have missed this clinically measurable benefit of counseling. It is often suggested that psychological and social support and health education for women at high risk for delivering a low-birth-weight infant can improve the outcomes of pregnancy, but the evidence is inconclusive. We undertook this prospective trial to evaluate a program of home visits designed to provide psychosocial support during pregnancy.
                At four centers in Latin America, 2235 women at higher-than-average risk for delivering a low-birth-weight infant were recruited before the 20th week of pregnancy. The women were randomly assigned either to an intervention group (n = 1115) that received four to six home visits from a nurse or social worker in addition to routine prenatal care or to a control group (n = 1120) that received only routine prenatal care (with a mean of eight prenatal visits). The principal measures of outcome were low birth weight (< 2500 g), preterm delivery (< 37 weeks of gestation), and specified categories of maternal and neonatal morbidity.
                The women who received the home visits as well as routine prenatal care had outcomes that differed little from those of the women who received only routine care. The risks of low birth weight (odds ratio for the intervention group as compared with the control group, 0.93; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.68 to 1.28), preterm delivery (odds ratio, 0.88; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.16), and intrauterine growth retardation (odds ratio, 1.08; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.40) were similar in the two groups. There was no evidence that the intervention had any significant effect on the type of delivery, the length of hospital stay, perinatal mortality, or neonatal morbidity in the first 40 days. There was no protective effect of the psychosocial-support program even among the mothers at highest risk.
                Interventions designed to provide psychosocial support and health education during high-risk pregnancies are unlikely to improve maternal health or to reduce the incidence of low birth weight among infants.
There is not enough evidence to recommend any intervention for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy, due to the significant methodological limitations of included studies and the small observed effect sizes. More high-quality randomised controlled trials with adequate sample sizes are required to evaluate the effectiveness of potential interventions.