Introduction

Maternal obesity and a higher than recommended gestational weight gain can place women and their babies at risk of developing adverse health outcomes both in the short, and in the long term. Because of this, nursing professionals are challenged to within primary level, prevent nutritional unbalances among pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to have nursing-own medium range theories which address this type of daily care.

Development

This article presents the development of a Healthy Nutritional Status Medium Range Theory for women during gestation based on the Fawcett theoretical derivation method, and sustained by Pender’s Health Promotion Model and the corresponding maternal obesity literature review. This theory aims to explain how personal, cognitive, and behavioral factors can exert an influence on women so that they adopt conducts which promote a healthy nutritional status during their pregnancy. Links among model related concepts, medium range theory concepts, and empirical indicators are all illustrated.

Conclusions

The proposed medium range theory can help obstetric nursing staff in the provision of evidence-based attention and corresponding interventions to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women.