Making Compromises: A Qualitative Study of Sugar Consumption Behaviors During Pregnancy

Objective: To explore influences on women's sugar consumption behaviors during pregnancy. Design: Focused ethnography guided this qualitative study. Contrasting experiences between women with varying sugar intakes were investigated using semi-structured interviews. Setting: Metropolitan area, Canada. Participants: Fifteen women with varying intakes of added sugar, who were in the third trimester of their first pregnancy, participated in this study. Phenomenon of Interest: Sugar consumption behaviors during pregnancy. Analysis: Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to inductively derive themes. Results: Pregnant women increased their intake of sugars in an effort to achieve a compromise between meeting nutrition recommendations, lifestyle adjustments, physical symptoms, and cultural norms. Physical symptoms, lack of nutritional guidance, and social pressures were identified as barriers to achieving a diet low in sugars, whereas implementing dietary strategies guided by nutritional knowledge was a facilitator. Conclusions and Implications: This research provides insights that may be used to design effective interventions to improve maternal health. Strategies to help pregnant women achieve a healthy diet and limit sugar intake should be guided by nutritional knowledge, dietary awareness, and internal motivations to engage in healthy dietary changes.