?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F40274%2F&rft.title=The+Relationship+Between+Perinatal+Weight+Stigma+and+Breastfeeding+Outcomes%3A+A+Mixed-Methods+Study&rft.creator=Dieterich%2C+Rachel&rft.description=Background%2FSignificance%3A+Despite+compelling+evidence+of+protective+effects+of+breastfeeding+on+obesity-related+morbidity+in+mothers+and+children%2C+individuals+with+increased+body+mass+indices+(BMIs)+have+poor+breastfeeding+outcomes+compared+to+those+of+normal+weight.+Sub-par+breastfeeding+rates+among+overweight+and+obese+individuals+are+attributed+to+a+multitude+of+physiological%2C+psychological%2C+and+support+barriers.+One+potential+contributing+factor+to+BMI-related+breastfeeding+disparities+may+be+weight-related+stigma%2C+which+surfaces+during+patient-professional+communication+and+is+internalized.+Obstetric+and+perinatal+healthcare+professionals+endorse+discomfort+interacting+and+providing+health+advice+to+individuals+with+BMIs+%E2%89%A5+25+-+who+report+feeling+stigmatized+during+obstetric+contacts+due+to+weight.+This+communication+breakdown+may+result+in+fewer+opportunities+for+healthcare+professionals+to+offer+breastfeeding+promotion+and+assistance%2C+and+concomitantly%2C+less+enthusiasm+and+greater+reservations+among+overweight+and+obese+parents+to+initiate+and+maintain+breastfeeding.+No+known+research+currently+exists+examining+the+potential+association+of+weight+stigma+(both+perceived+and+internalized+by+pregnant+and+postpartum+individuals)+and+breastfeeding+outcomes.+%0D%0APurpose%3A+In+this+prospective+cohort+mixed+methods+study%2C+we+examined+the+relationship+between+weight+stigma+and+breastfeeding+outcomes+among+individuals+with+pre-pregnancy+BMIs+%E2%89%A525+during+the+perinatal+period.+Specifically%2C+we%3A+1)+examined+the+temporal+variation+of+internalized+weight+stigma+at+28-40+weeks+of+pregnancy+and+1+month+postpartum%2C+2)+explored+the+predictive+relationship+between+prenatal+internalized+weight+stigma+and+breastfeeding+outcomes+(initiation%2C+continuation%2C+exclusivity)+and+3)+explored+postpartum+individual%E2%80%99s+perceptions+about+weight+stigma+experienced+during+healthcare+professional+interactions+in+pregnancy%2C+labor%2C+and+postpartum+and+its+perceived+impact+on+their+breastfeeding+experience.+%0D%0AMethods%3A+A+purposeful+sample+of+110+individuals+with+BMIs+%E2%89%A525+who+planned+to+breastfeed+were+recruited+for+Aims+1+and+2+at+28-40%2B+weeks+of+pregnancy.+Participants+completed+a+validated+weight+stigma+questionnaire+during+the+third+trimester+and+at+1+month+postpartum%2C+at+which+time+they+were+also+surveyed+on+their+breastfeeding+practices.+Additional+breastfeeding+data+from+the+birth+hospitalization+were+collected+from+the+electronic+medical+record.+For+Aim+1%2C+a+repeated+measures+t-test+was+used+to+determine+if+differences+existed+among+weight+stigma+scores+during+and+after+pregnancy.+For+aim+2%2C+we+used+regression+analysis+to+examine+the+predictive+relationship+between+weight+stigma+and+breastfeeding+initiation%2C+continuation+and+exclusivity.+For+Aim+3%2C+we+conducted+semi-structured+telephone+interviews+at+one+month+postpartum+with+individuals+purposively+selected+from+Aims+1+and+2+regarding+their+experiences+with+weight+stigma+and+breastfeeding.+Interviews+continued+until+we+reached+data+saturation.+A+qualitative+descriptive+approach+was+utilized+in+the+coding+and+interpretation+of+interviews+to+further+explore+how+individuals+perceive+weight+stigma+in+the+obstetric+setting+and+its+influence+on+their+breastfeeding+outcomes.++%0D%0AImplications%3A+This+study+set+forth+the+groundwork+for+development+of+nursing+interventions+to+mitigate+experienced+and+perceived+weight+stigma+and+promote+optimal+patient-professional+communication+and+breastfeeding+among+overweight%2Fobese+perinatal+individuals.+The+study+had+immediate+clinical+implications+for+obstetric+providers+and+nursing+staff+who+may+be+unaware+of+their+unconscious+biases+in+the+care+of+birthing+individuals+with+high+BMIs.+This+research+has+the+potential+to+lead+to+improved+breastfeeding+rates+and%2C+consequently%2C+improved+health+outcomes+among+overweight+and+obese+perinatal+individuals.&rft.date=2021-02-19&rft.type=University+of+Pittsburgh+ETD&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F40274%2F7%2FDieterich_Dissertation_ETD.pdf&rft.identifier=++Dieterich%2C+Rachel++(2021)+The+Relationship+Between+Perinatal+Weight+Stigma+and+Breastfeeding+Outcomes%3A+A+Mixed-Methods+Study.++Doctoral+Dissertation%2C+University+of+Pittsburgh.++++(Unpublished)++