She "didn't see my weight; she saw me, a mom who needed help breastfeeding": Perceptions of perinatal weight stigma and its relationship with breastfeeding experiences.

Weight stigmatization is related to emotional and psychological distress including low self-esteem, body image dissatisfaction, depression, and anxiety; all linked with suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes. This qualitative descriptive study explored postpartum individuals' recalled experiences of weight stigma during interactions with perinatal healthcare professionals and its perceived influence on their breastfeeding experiences. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with (n= 18) participants. Three themes emerged: (1) "Size Doesn't Matter: They Looked Beyond the Scale," (2) "My Self-Confidence and Desire to Breastfeed is More Important than Weight," and (3) "I Was on My Own"-Limited Social Support not Weight Stigma Influenced Breastfeeding.

The Relationship Between Internalized Weight Stigma During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between internalized weight stigma during pregnancy and breastfeeding outcomes at 1 month post partum among individuals with prepregnancy overweight or obesity. Secondarily, the study explored the temporal stability of internalized weight stigma from the third trimester to 1 month post partum via the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). METHODS: A total of 103 pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity were recruited for this study. Participants completed the WBIS during the third trimester and self-reported breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and exclusivity outcomes at 1 month post partum. A paired t test and binomial logistic regression were conducted with covariates hierarchically added to the model. RESULTS: The average prepregnancy BMI was 33.53 (SD 7.17) kg/m2 (range = 25.4-62), and average prenatal WBIS scores were 25.95 (SD 11.83). No difference was found in mean prenatal and postpartum scores (25.95 [SD 11.83]; 26.86 [SD 13.03], respectively; t94 = -0.83, P = 0.41), evidencing temporal stability in WBIS scores from pre to post partum. Prenatal WBIS scores did not predict breastfeeding initiation, continuation, or exclusivity at 1 month post partum in either unadjusted or adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, this sample displayed low weight bias internalization, which was not predictive of breastfeeding initiation, continuation, or exclusivity at 1 month post partum. Future research is needed to develop a pregnancy-specific weight stigma measure.