EC Gynaecology

Introduction: Monitoring women’s diet during the postpartum period is an advisable practice to promote health and prevent overweight.

Objective: To evaluate the energy and macronutrient offered and consumed by immediate postpartum women in a public maternity hospital.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in a public maternity hospital with immediate postpartum women (1^st - 10^th day after delivery). Women could only eat what was offered in the hospital. Three-day hospital menus were weighted and women’s individual food intake was collected by 24-hour-dietary recall. Energy and macronutrient content of hospital food supply and women’s diet was compared to the women’s estimated energy requirement (EER) and to the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR). A sample size of 50 participants was estimated adopting a 95% confidence interval, 5% error, and formula for descriptive purposes and finite population.

Results: The majority had term (80.8%) and vaginal (72.7%) delivery. Pre-gestational overweight occurrence was 40.4% and 46.9% gained weight excessively during gestation. Mean energy intake (3594.2 kcal) was above the mean EER (2297.5 kcal) and below the mean energy supply (3594.2 kcal). Protein and carbohydrate participation in the hospital menus and women’s diet were within the AMDR. Total and saturated fat participation in hospital menus and women’s diet were above the dietary recommendations.

Conclusion: Women consumed less amount of energy comparing to what was offered in the hospital menus, but above their energy daily needs. This diet profile is not advisable to women’s in the immediate postpartum period, considering the greater risk for weight retention.

Keywords: Nutrient Intake; Maternal Nutrition; Postpartum Period

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