Intervention
SESSION
The intervention consisted of 4 face-to-face coaching sessions which focussed on nutrition, physical activity and mental health, in combination with an e-health app. Study visits were conducted by researchers, midwives, and nurses who received a three-day intensive training course. To standardize the coaching sessions, all trained staff received a detailed manual including the steps, techniques and content to discuss in each session.More in detail: session 1 and session 2 (6 and 8 weeks after childbirth) focused on a general discussion of the lifestyle components: nutrition, physical activity and mental health. Session 3 (12 weeks after childbirth) offered a specific targeted and in depth coaching on nutrition, eating behaviour and food intake. Session 4 (6 months after childbirth) offered a specific targeted coaching on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and mental health.The mental health component consisted of 2 main topics; stressors and social support. The session (4) aimed to provide insight into specific stressors that have an impact on the participant’s well-being and to increase knowledge around the impact of well-being on general health. We informed participants about feelings of stress and tension related to transition to parenthood and identified and discussed personal stressors.In addition, the session focused on strengthening the participant’s social network by identifying and optimizing the social support they received. Information was provided using the Ask- Tell- Ask method.Motivational interviewing, behavioural change techniques, goal settings, action planning and reinforcement were implemented in the coaching sessions. Additionally, the e-health app supported the coaching sessions by sending motivational messages and informational advice, and participants were able to set and monitor their own lifestyle goals. To stimulate self-monitoring of physical activity and body weight, women were supported to use a received Bluetooth connected weight scale (Withings Body+, Withings, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France) and activity tracker (Withings GO) which was linked to the e-health app [To increase feasibility for both staff and participants, a deviation of 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after the predetermined visit timepoint was allowed.