The quality of life of women during pregnancy, puerperium and lactation, depending on the nutritional condition before pregnancy

Introduction. An increase in the number of women with eating disorders such as excessive weight, obesity, or malnutrition has been observed. Pregnancy and childbirth affect the subjective perception of women’s quality of life.

Aim of study. Assessment of womens’s quality of life in pregnancy, puerperium and lactation period, depending on the nutritional condition prior to pregnancy.

Material and methods. The research included 247 women. The survey was conducted three times: postnatally, six weeks and six months after childbirth. The diagnostic survey method was used, the tools being a standardized questionnaire SF-36v1 (Quality of Life SF-36v1), an original questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of body weight and height, serving to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI).

Results and conclusions. The study revealed better quality of life in women six weeks and six months after childbirth, compared to the postnatal period. Statistically significant differences were shown in the following scales: Physical functioning (PF) (p < 0.0001), Role limitations due to physical health problems (RP) (p < 0.0001), Body pain (BP) (p < 0.0001), General health perception (GH) (p < 0.0001), Vitality, energy or fatigue (VT) (p = 0.0002) Social functioning (SF) (p < 0.0001), Role limitations due to emotional problems (RE) (p < 0.0001), and in Physical Component Sumary (PCS domain) (p < 0.0001). In the studied group the quality of life was improved in subsequent periods of the surveys. It has been shown that the women with inefficient weight before pregnancy had a significantly higher quality of life indicators compared to women with normal weight, excessive weight and obesity.

Nursing Topics 2015; 23 (4): 484–489