Navigating weight change during and after pregnancy among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada.

BACKGROUND

Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada may face unique challenges navigating weight change during and after pregnancy due to cultural expectations, migration related barriers, and limited access to culturally appropriate prenatal care. Although gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention are important indicators of maternal health, little is known about how immigrant women experience and manage these changes within the Canadian context.

METHODS

This qualitative study used a Reflective Lifeworld Research approach to explore Chinese immigrant mothers' experiences of weight change during and after pregnancy. A convenience sample of eighteen mothers who had given birth within the previous twelve months participated in in-depth telephone interviews conducted in Mandarin. Data were analysed through an iterative process between parts and the whole, with findings organized using the Socioecological Model to capture influences across multiple levels.

RESULTS

Mothers' experiences were shaped by interacting influences across individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and policy levels. At the individual level, limited knowledge, body image concerns, and traditional postpartum practices such as Zuo Yue Zi (a traditional Chinese postpartum practice emphasizing rest, dietary regulation, and behavioural guidelines during the first month after childbirth) influenced weight-related behaviours. Interpersonally, inconsistent partner support and migration related separation from family members affected mothers' ability to prioritize their own wellbeing. At the community level, low awareness of maternal health programs limited access to credible guidance. Organizationally, differences between Chinese and Canadian healthcare systems created uncertainty around healthy weight change. At the policy level, mothers highlighted the absence of centralized, culturally relevant resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese immigrant mothers' experiences of pregnancy and postpartum weight change reflect a complex interaction of cultural, relational, and structural influences. These findings highlight the importance of clearer provider communication and culturally responsive maternity care to support immigrant mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.