Table 6 Common themes among people who responded to “What did you say to a pregnant woman about weight gain during pregnancy” (n = 74)

 Normalizing weight gain or reassurance (N = 44)

It’s a beautiful thing healthy for the baby

I told her it’s OK to gain weight

Not to worry about the weight she can lose it

That it doesn’t matter how much she gains.

 Warnings about weight gain (N = 29)

It is important to watch your weight because too much or to less can be harmful to you and the baby

Be cautious with to much weight gain to minimize risk of diabetes, but too little can deprive the baby of nutrition.

Too much weight gain could lead to gestational diabetes

 Conversation or discussion about weight gain (N = 20)

Just asked how much did she weigh before her pregnancy and how much did she gain during

How much weight have you gain? Do you eat a lot?

I asked if her gain was normal and how she felt about it

We just discussed it in general. It was a friend who was feeling frustrated about her doctor’s fixation on her weight gain.

 Discussed behavior change (N = 17)

That’s it’s fine, totally normal, just keep eating healthy and you’ll lose it after the baby is born.

Watch what she eat and try to exercise a little bit

 Depends on the person or ambivalence (N = 8)

That everyone is different some gain more than others they should eat healthy drink lots of water and get some exercise

a small to medium amount of weight gain is good in most cases

 Told the amount she should gain (N = 4)

Should gain 2_3 lbs per monthly

Gaining around 30–35 lbs is normal and healthy

 Normalizing or reassurance (N = 20)

Her weight was good

You look great!

That is was normal and that she shouldn’t worry

 Educating or informational (N = 18)

Focus on nutrition not cravings

WEIGHT GAIN IS GOOD AND BAD DURING PREGNANCY SO EAT HEALTHY!!

 Encouraging or engaging (N = 18)

It’s a beautiful thing healthy for the baby

We talked about what is normal and healthy

We just discussed it in general. It was a friend who was feeling frustrated about her doctor’s fixation on her weight gain.

 Directive or commanding (N = 17)

Don’t gain too much

She needed to gain more weight

 Non-committal (N = 12)

My wife didn’t gain much weight but there wasn’t much concern

 Blaming or judgmental (N = 5)

You need to stop eating the wrong foods

Wow, you are big.