Health professional perspectives on dietary practices and nutrition during pre-conception and pregnancy

Background: The foundations for child health begin in pregnancy and pre-conception. However, little is known about how health professionals advise prospective parents regarding nutritional needs.
Aims: To understand: (a) The facilitators and barriers to healthy food and diet practices during pre-conception and pregnancy; (b) how the barrier(s) to healthy diets can be addressed; (c) the changes required to facilitate good food practices.
Methods: Three focus groups and four interviews were conducted with 12 United Kingdom professional representatives working within health or dietary/nutrition contexts. Data was thematically analysed with three themes emerging.
Findings: Participants reported that expectant parents need to understand what healthy eating means; they suggested that health professionals themselves require more nutrition-related education to maximise health promotion opportunities; they thought that a key barrier to healthy eating was a lack of commitment by expectant parents to prepare nutritious meals.
Conclusions: There is a need for clear, consistent, engaging and culturally appropriate dietary information as well as access to professionals who can give both generic and tailored advice.