Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Gestational Diabetes | Research article

Implementing a healthy postpartum lifestyle after gestational diabetes or preeclampsia: a qualitative study of the partner’s role

Authors: Ingfrid Almli, Hege S. Haugdahl, Heidi L. Sandsæter, Janet W. Rich-Edwards, Julie Horn

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Women with preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk for later cardiovascular disease, and lifestyle measures are recommended to prevent subsequent disease. Partner support has been shown to be important in lifestyle modification in other diseases, but there is a lack of knowledge of partner involvement in PE and GDM. The aim of this study was to explore the partner’s experiences and knowledge of gestational diseases, and how the partner wishes to contribute to lifestyle change.

Methods

A qualitative study with one focus group interview and seven in-depth individual interviews, involving eleven partners of women with a pregnancy complicated by GDM or PE. The interview data were inductively analysed using four-step systematic text condensation, supported by interdependence theory.

Results

Partners experienced a strong “we-feeling” and wanted to support the woman in lifestyle changes. At the same time, they felt insecure, worried, foolish and left out and they missed information from clinicians. The partners felt that their involvement was crucial to lasting lifestyle changes and expected that the clinicians would routinely invite them to discuss lifestyle change.

Conclusions

Partners considered themselves an important resource for lifestyle changes for women with PE and GDM, but missed being more directly invited, informed and included in maternity care and wanted to participate in the care that followed the gestational disease. This study can help health professionals to realize that partners are an overlooked resource that can make important contributions to improve the health of the whole family if they are involved and supported by health services.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Wu P, Kwok CS, Haththotuwa R, Kotronias RA, Babu A, Fryer AA, et al. Pre-eclampsia is associated with a twofold increase in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia. 2016;59(12):2518–26.CrossRef
2.
Bellamy L, Casas JP, Hingorani AD, Williams D. Type 2 diabetes mellitus after gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2009;373(9677):1773–9.CrossRef
3.
4.
Tobias DK, Stuart JJ, Li S, Chavarro J, Rimm EB, Rich-Edwards J, et al. Association of History of gestational diabetes with long-term cardiovascular disease risk in a large prospective cohort of US women. JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(12):1735–42.CrossRef
5.
Abalos E, Cuesta C, Grosso AL, Chou D, Say L. Global and regional estimates of preeclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013;170(1):1–7.CrossRef
6.
Klungsoyr K, Morken NH, Irgens L, Vollset SE, Skjaerven R. Secular trends in the epidemiology of pre-eclampsia throughout 40 years in Norway: prevalence, risk factors and perinatal survival. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012;26(3):190–8.CrossRef
7.
Zhu Y, Zhang C. Prevalence of gestational diabetes and risk of progression to type 2 diabetes: a global perspective. Curr Diabetes Rep. 2016;16(1):7.CrossRef
8.
9.
Piepoli MF, Hoes AW, Agewall S, Albus C, Brotons C, Catapano AL, et al. 2016 European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed). 2016;69(10):939.CrossRef
10.
Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, Bezanson JL, Dolor RJ, Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women--2011 update: a guideline from the american heart association. Circulation. 2011;123(11):1243–62.CrossRef
11.
12.
Phelan S. Pregnancy: a "teachable moment" for weight control and obesity prevention. Am J Obstetrics Gynecol. 2010;202(2):135 e1–8.CrossRef
13.
Seely EW, Rich-Edwards J, Lui J, Nicklas JM, Saxena A, Tsigas E, et al. Risk of future cardiovascular disease in women with prior preeclampsia: a focus group study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:240.CrossRef
14.
Edvardsson K, Ivarsson A, Eurenius E, Garvare R, Nystrom ME, Small R, et al. Giving offspring a healthy start: parents' experiences of health promotion and lifestyle change during pregnancy and early parenthood. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:936.CrossRef
15.
Jelsma JG, van Leeuwen KM, Oostdam N, Bunn C, Simmons D, Desoye G, et al. Beliefs, barriers, and preferences of European overweight women to adopt a healthier lifestyle in pregnancy to minimize risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus: an explorative study. J Pregnancy. 2016;2016:3435791.CrossRef
16.
Skurnik G, Roche AT, Stuart JJ, Rich-Edwards J, Tsigas E, Levkoff SE, et al. Improving the postpartum care of women with a recent history of preeclampsia: a focus group study. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2016;35(3):371–81.CrossRef
17.
Sandsæter HL, Horn J, Rich-Edwards JW, Haugdahl HS. Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and later risk of cardiovascular disease: Women’s experiences and motivation for lifestyle changes explored in focus group interviews. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):448.CrossRef
18.
Kwasnicka D, Dombrowski SU, White M, Sniehotta F. Theoretical explanations for maintenance of behaviour change: a systematic review of behaviour theories. Health Psychol Rev. 2016;10(3):277–96.CrossRef
19.
Rusbult CE, Van Lange PA. Interdependence, interaction, and relationships. Annu Rev Psychol. 2003;54:351–75.CrossRef
20.
Lewis MA, McBride CM, Pollak KI, Puleo E, Butterfield RM, Emmons KM. Understanding health behavior change among couples: an interdependence and communal coping approach. Soc Sci Med. 2006;62(6):1369–80.CrossRef
21.
Di Castelnuovo A, Quacquaruccio G, Donati MB, de Gaetano G, Iacoviello L. Spousal concordance for major coronary risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2009;169(1):1–8.CrossRef
22.
Nissen NK, Jonsdottir M, Spindler H, Zwisler AO. Resistance to change: role of relationship and communal coping for coronary heart disease patients and their partners in making lifestyle changes. Scand J Public Health. 2018;46(6):659–66.CrossRef
23.
Roman-Galvez RM, Amezcua-Prieto C, Olmedo-Requena R, Lewis-Mikhael Saad AM, Martinez-Galiano JM, Bueno-Cavanillas A. Partner smoking influences whether mothers quit smoking during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study. Bjog. 2018;125(7):820–7.CrossRef
24.
Wallwork A, Tremblay L, Chi M, Sockalingam S. Exploring Partners' experiences in living with patients who undergo bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2017;27(8):1973–81.CrossRef
25.
Kvale S, Brinkmann S. Interviews: learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing: sage; 2009.
26.
Krueger RA, Casey MA. Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage publications; 2014.
27.
Malterud K. Kvalitative forskningsmetoder for medisin og helsefag 4. utgave. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget; 2017.
28.
Malterud K. Systematic text condensation: a strategy for qualitative analysis. Scand J Public Health. 2012;40(8):795–805.CrossRef
29.
Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349–57.CrossRef
30.
Hoedjes M, Berks D, Vogel I, Franx A, Duvekot JJ, Oenema A, et al. Motivators and barriers to a healthy postpartum lifestyle in women at increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk: a focus-group study. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2012;31(1):147–55.CrossRef
31.
Parsons J, Ismail K, Amiel S, Forbes A. Perceptions among women with gestational diabetes. Qual Health Res. 2014;24(4):575–85.CrossRef
32.
Patel H, Berg M, Begley C, Schaufelberger M. Fathers' experiences of care when their partners suffer from peripartum cardiomyopathy: a qualitative interview study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):330.CrossRef
33.
Parsons J, Sparrow K, Ismail K, Hunt K, Rogers H, Forbes A. A qualitative study exploring women's health behaviours after a pregnancy with gestational diabetes to inform the development of a diabetes prevention strategy. Diabet Med. 2019;36(2):203–13.CrossRef
34.
Plantin L, Olykoya A, Ny P. Positive health outcomes of fathers’ involvment in pregnancy and childbirth paternal support: a scope study literature review. Fathering. 2011;1:9.
35.
Tokhi M, Comrie-Thomson L, Davis J, Portela A, Chersich M, Luchters S. Involving men to improve maternal and newborn health: a systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions. PLoS One. 2018;13(1):e0191620.CrossRef
36.
Huusko L, Sjoberg S, Ekstrom A, Hertfelt Wahn E, Thorstensson S. First-time Fathers' experience of support from midwives in maternity clinics: an interview study. Nurs Res Pract. 2018;2018:9618036.PubMedPubMedCentral
37.
38.
Gill MM, Ditekemena J, Loando A, Ilunga V, Temmerman M, Fwamba F. “The co-authors of pregnancy”: leveraging men’s sense of responsibility and other factors for male involvement in antenatal services in Kinshasa, DRC. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):409.CrossRef
39.
Richards EA, Franks MM, McDonough MH, Porter K. ‘Let’s move:‘a systematic review of spouse-involved interventions to promote physical activity. Int J Health Promot Educ. 2018;56(1):51–67.CrossRef
40.
Malterud K. Qualitative research: standards, challenges, and guidelines. Lancet. 2001;358(9280):483–8.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Implementing a healthy postpartum lifestyle after gestational diabetes or preeclampsia: a qualitative study of the partner’s role
Authors
Ingfrid Almli
Hege S. Haugdahl
Heidi L. Sandsæter
Janet W. Rich-Edwards
Julie Horn
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-2769-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020 Go to the issue

Research article

Psychometric properties of satisfaction with the childbirth education class questionnaire for Iranian population

Research article

The differences in the consumption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the diet of pregnant women diagnosed with arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension and hypothyroidism

Research article

Effect of HELLP syndrome on acute kidney injury in pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Research article

The effect of hyoscine n- butylbromide on labor progress: A systematic review

Research article

Preventive health counselling during antenatal care using the pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system (PRAMS) in Ireland

Research article

Effects of gestational diabetes mellitus on risk of adverse maternal outcomes: a prospective cohort study in Northwest Ethiopia