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Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in Australia among women of childbearing age has doubled over the past 2 decades. Obesity is associated with complications for women and their newborns during pregnancy and birth. Limiting gestational weight gain can reduce perinatal complications and postnatal weight retention, but evidence supporting interventions designed to assist obese pregnant women to manage their weight gain in pregnancy is inconclusive. The aim of this article is to describe the gestational weight change of a cohort of obese pregnant women enrolled in a group antenatal program aimed at assisting them to limit their weight gain in pregnancy to levels recommended by the US Institute of Medicine. Methods: The program was jointly developed by 2 metropolitan maternity services in New South Wales, Australia. This is a descriptive study that presents select data for women enrolled in the program. Body mass index (BMI), prepregnancy weight, last pregnancy weight, and selected clinical outcomes were recorded for 82 obese women enrolled in the program during the evaluation period of 14 months. Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests: the chi-square and the Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Parity was associated with prepregnancy BMI, with women of higher parity having higher BMIs. Women with higher BMIs had a significantly lower gestational weight gain than women with lower BMIs. Overall, 27% of women enrolled in the program gained the recommended 5 to 9 kg, 27% gained less than this amount, and 46% gained more. Discussion: Evidence supporting interventions designed to assist obese pregnant women to manage their weight gain in pregnancy is lacking. This innovative, collaborative program shows promise, as early results compare favorably with international comparisons. © 2014 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Assessment is a powerful influence on learning, and can form an important strategy amongst a variety of teaching and learning approaches. Authentic assessment activities are designed to mimic the complexity of 'real world' situations that students may encounter in professional life, and require the application of a combination of skills related to knowledge, skills and attitude. We undertook a small-scale evaluation using a qualitative descriptive design to explore the feasibility and usefulness of an authentic assessment item that focused on a common clinical scenario in midwifery practice, female catheterisation. Seven third year Bachelor of Midwifery students and three teaching staff volunteered to participate in the project. During the process the students videoed the scenario for peer assessment, developed marking criteria, completed an online survey and participated in a focus group. The findings demonstrated that the students' confidence, knowledge and skills improved as a result of participating in the assessment item and they rated it positively for use in the Bachelor of Midwifery curriculum as a means of increasing real world assessment activities. It is anticipated that this learning strategy will be further refined and integrated in various ways into other clinical midwifery subjects in the midwifery curriculum. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Objective: Obesity amongst women of child bearing age is increasing at an unprecedented, rate throughout the Western world. This paper describes the design of an innovative, collaborative, antenatal intervention that aims to assist women to manage their weight during pregnancy and, presents aspects of the programme evaluation. Data sources/study setting: The programme was introduced at two sites, one in South East Sydney and, the other on the Central North Coast of NSW. Data were drawn from both sites and pooled for analysis. Study design: This evaluation used mixed methods drawing on qualitative and quantitative data. Data collection methods: Focus groups were held with staff in the antenatal clinic, who were, responsible for recruiting to the new service. Members of staff were also asked to record BMI for all women offered the service and using a simple questionnaire, record the reasons women gave for declining the new service. Principle findings: The recruitment rate to the new service was 35% though this result should be treated with caution. Those women with a BMI of >35 were twice as likely to elect to participate in the new service as women with a BMI of less than 35. Focus groups with midwives in the antenatal clinic responsible for recruitment identified three themes impacting on recruitment to the service; 'finding the words', 'acknowledging challenges' and 'midwives' knowledge'. Conclusions: Antenatal clinic midwives were unprepared for talking to women about their weight. Increasing the confidence and skills of staff in offering service innovations to eligible women is a major challenge to be met if new models of care are to be successful in addressing overweight and obesity in pregnancy. © 2011 Australian College of Midwives.