Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study
With an growing number of people on a strict plant-based diet, its potential effect on pregnancy and lactation becomes increasingly important. It is, however, unclear how obstetric caregivers currently handle and think about a strict plant-based diet in pregnancy. The aim of the study was therefore...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2394 |
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| author | Deidre Meulenbroeks Isabel Versmissen Nanique Prins Daisy Jonkers Jessica Gubbels Hubertina Scheepers |
| author_facet | Deidre Meulenbroeks Isabel Versmissen Nanique Prins Daisy Jonkers Jessica Gubbels Hubertina Scheepers |
| author_sort | Deidre Meulenbroeks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With an growing number of people on a strict plant-based diet, its potential effect on pregnancy and lactation becomes increasingly important. It is, however, unclear how obstetric caregivers currently handle and think about a strict plant-based diet in pregnancy. The aim of the study was therefore to evaluate the self-reported knowledge and advice given by Dutch obstetric caregivers and dietitians when treating pregnant women on a strict plant-based diet. A cross-sectional study was performed by sending an online survey to Dutch midwife practices, obstetricians, and dietitian practices. Descriptive statistics are reported. A total of 121 midwives, 179 obstetricians, and 111 dietitians participated in this study. The majority of midwives (80.2%) and obstetricians (93.9%) considered a strict plant-based diet to be a significant risk factor for nutrient deficiency during pregnancy. Maternal dietary preferences, including a potential strict plant-based diet, were discussed at the first prenatal appointment by 59.5% of midwives and 24.1% of obstetricians. A self-reported lack of knowledge concerning the strict plant-based diet was mentioned by 66.1% of midwives and 75.4% of obstetricians. Obstetric caregivers mostly considered the identification of this dietary habit and subsequent referral to a dietitian or a reliable website as optimal care for pregnant women on the strict plant-based diet. However, only 38.7% of dietitians indicated to have sufficient knowledge to counsel these women. Although obstetric caregivers thought that a strict plant-based diet in pregnancy may lead to increased risks of nutritional deficiencies, the majority report to have insufficient knowledge to provide adequate advice. Only a minority referred these women to dietitians, of whom a minority indicated to have adequate knowledge on this specific diet. These results suggest that current care is suboptimal for an increasing number of pregnant women. Women on a strict plant-based diet could benefit from increased knowledge about this topic among obstetric caregivers and dietitians, as well as from clear guidelines regarding this diet during pregnancy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-643677dcd49045ed964f5b3431b03e68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-643677dcd49045ed964f5b3431b03e682023-11-22T04:36:53ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-07-01137239410.3390/nu13072394Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional StudyDeidre Meulenbroeks0Isabel Versmissen1Nanique Prins2Daisy Jonkers3Jessica Gubbels4Hubertina Scheepers5Máxima Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 5500 MB Veldhoven, The NetherlandsMaastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, P. Debyelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsMaastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, P. Debyelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment Internal Medicine, Division Gastroenterology-Hepatology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsMaastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, P. Debyelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsWith an growing number of people on a strict plant-based diet, its potential effect on pregnancy and lactation becomes increasingly important. It is, however, unclear how obstetric caregivers currently handle and think about a strict plant-based diet in pregnancy. The aim of the study was therefore to evaluate the self-reported knowledge and advice given by Dutch obstetric caregivers and dietitians when treating pregnant women on a strict plant-based diet. A cross-sectional study was performed by sending an online survey to Dutch midwife practices, obstetricians, and dietitian practices. Descriptive statistics are reported. A total of 121 midwives, 179 obstetricians, and 111 dietitians participated in this study. The majority of midwives (80.2%) and obstetricians (93.9%) considered a strict plant-based diet to be a significant risk factor for nutrient deficiency during pregnancy. Maternal dietary preferences, including a potential strict plant-based diet, were discussed at the first prenatal appointment by 59.5% of midwives and 24.1% of obstetricians. A self-reported lack of knowledge concerning the strict plant-based diet was mentioned by 66.1% of midwives and 75.4% of obstetricians. Obstetric caregivers mostly considered the identification of this dietary habit and subsequent referral to a dietitian or a reliable website as optimal care for pregnant women on the strict plant-based diet. However, only 38.7% of dietitians indicated to have sufficient knowledge to counsel these women. Although obstetric caregivers thought that a strict plant-based diet in pregnancy may lead to increased risks of nutritional deficiencies, the majority report to have insufficient knowledge to provide adequate advice. Only a minority referred these women to dietitians, of whom a minority indicated to have adequate knowledge on this specific diet. These results suggest that current care is suboptimal for an increasing number of pregnant women. Women on a strict plant-based diet could benefit from increased knowledge about this topic among obstetric caregivers and dietitians, as well as from clear guidelines regarding this diet during pregnancy.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2394plant-basedveganobstetric caredietpregnancylactation dietitian |
| spellingShingle | Deidre Meulenbroeks Isabel Versmissen Nanique Prins Daisy Jonkers Jessica Gubbels Hubertina Scheepers Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study Nutrients plant-based vegan obstetric care diet pregnancy lactation dietitian |
| title | Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Care by Midwives, Obstetricians, and Dietitians for Pregnant Women Following a Strict Plant-Based Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | care by midwives obstetricians and dietitians for pregnant women following a strict plant based diet a cross sectional study |
| topic | plant-based vegan obstetric care diet pregnancy lactation dietitian |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2394 |
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