Puerperium experience and lifestyle in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and overweight/obesity in China: A qualitative study

IntroductionWomen with overweight or obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other metabolic diseases. Healthy postpartum lifestyles in women with GDM are important for effectively preventing early T2DM occurrence; however, few studies and guidelines focus in China on this issue. AimsThis qualitative study aimed to understand the puerperium experience and lifestyle of women with overweight/obesity and GDM. MethodsA face-to-face, in-depth, and semi-structured interview was conducted using a hermeneutical phenomenology method to collect data that were analyzed through thematic analysis. ResultsOut of 61 recruited women with overweight/obesity and history of GDM, 14 women underwent an interview and provided detailed descriptions of their lifestyle experiences during puerperium. The interview data were used to generate four themes-puerperium dietary behavior, weight perception and "confinement" behavior, family support, disease knowledge, and perceived risk-and nine sub-themes. ConclusionUnhealthy lifestyles, misconceptions about food, the conflict between physical activity and confinement behavior, a lack of social and family support, and low awareness of disease risk are all common among overweight/obese women with a history of GDM. Thus, we emphasized that healthcare providers should provide continuous preventive care from pregnancy to postpartum and promote long-term health in high-risk populations with a history of GDM associated with overweight/obesity.