Trajectory of weight changes in the first 6 weeks postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the trajectory of postpartum weight changes and to examine associations between weight change in the first 6 weeks postpartum and demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral variables.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal design.


METHODS
Community hospital and university research setting.


METHODS
26 low-income women (9 White, 8 Black, and 9 Hispanic) with uncomplicated term pregnancies.


METHODS
Body mass index measured weekly.


RESULTS
Among White women, body mass index decreased significantly for the first 3 weeks of the postpartum period. Black women experienced a significant reduction in body mass index for only the first 2 postpartum weeks. Similarly, the postpartum body mass index decreased for the first 2 weeks for Hispanic women. Prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain each had a significant positive effect on postpartum body mass index. Perception of social support at 4 weeks had a significant positive effect on postpartum body mass index in Black women.


CONCLUSIONS
The trajectory of weight change was nonlinear with large initial weight losses during the first 2 to 3 weeks postpartum followed by weight plateaus for the remainder of the first 6 weeks postpartum.
Walker
Lorraine O
LO
School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin 78701-1499, USA. lwalker@mail.nur.utexas.edu
Sterling
Bobbie Sue
BS
Kim
Minseong
M
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
Timmerman
Gayle M
GM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D016014:Linear Models; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D015206:Southwestern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology