Researchers tested whether a smartphone-based program helping pregnant women manage weight gain could also reduce household chaos—the stress and disorganization in a home. They studied 258 pregnant women with lower incomes who received either standard pregnancy care or standard care plus weekly emails and coaching about healthy eating and exercise. While the program helped with weight management, it didn’t significantly reduce household stress or chaos. The findings suggest that future programs may need to directly address home organization and stress management, not just focus on weight, to truly help families create calmer, healthier homes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a digital pregnancy program that teaches healthy eating and exercise could reduce the stress and disorganization in pregnant women’s homes, and whether reducing that stress would help the weight management program work better.
  • Who participated: 258 pregnant women with lower incomes who were enrolled in the WIC nutrition assistance program. About 54% were Black, 43% were having their first baby, and 36% started the study with obesity.
  • Key finding: The pregnancy program successfully helped with weight management, but household chaos (stress and disorganization at home) didn’t change much during pregnancy and didn’t explain why the program worked. About 54% of women’s homes became slightly more organized or stayed the same, while 46% became more chaotic.
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant and using a weight management app, it may help you gain a healthy amount of weight, but it probably won’t reduce stress at home on its own. You may need separate support to organize your home and manage stress during pregnancy.

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is one of the strongest types of research. Researchers randomly divided 258 pregnant women into two groups: one received standard pregnancy care through the WIC program, while the other received the same standard care plus extra support through emails and weekly phone calls with a health coach who discussed healthy eating and exercise. Both groups were measured at the beginning of pregnancy (around 12-16 weeks) and near the end (around 35-37 weeks) to see how their weight and home stress levels changed.

The researchers measured household chaos using a questionnaire that asks about things like noise levels, clutter, crowding, and how organized the home feels. They also tracked weight gain throughout pregnancy. The study was designed to see if reducing household chaos could explain why the weight management program worked—in other words, did the program work because it made homes less stressful, or did it work for other reasons?

This type of study design is strong because randomly assigning people to groups helps ensure fair comparisons. However, the study only measured people at two time points, so researchers couldn’t track changes week by week.

Understanding household chaos matters because research shows that growing up in a disorganized, stressful home is linked to childhood obesity. If a pregnancy program could reduce household chaos, it might help prevent obesity in children before they’re even born. This study helps us understand whether weight management programs also help with home stress, or if we need different approaches to tackle both problems.

This study has several strengths: it used random assignment, had a decent-sized group of 258 participants, and measured real outcomes. However, there are some limitations to consider. The study only measured household chaos twice (early and late pregnancy), so we don’t know how it changed in between. The study also couldn’t track whether changes lasted after pregnancy ended. Additionally, the results may not apply to all pregnant women, since this study focused on women with lower incomes in the WIC program.

What the Results Show

The main finding was surprising: household chaos didn’t change much overall during pregnancy. On average, chaos scores stayed about the same from early pregnancy to late pregnancy. However, the picture was more complex when looking at individual women—about 54% of women experienced improved or stable household chaos, while 45% experienced increased chaos during pregnancy.

The weight management program did help pregnant women gain an appropriate amount of weight, which is important for healthy pregnancies. However, the program’s success wasn’t explained by changes in household chaos. In other words, the program worked, but not because it made homes less stressful.

When researchers looked at whether reducing household chaos helped explain the program’s effectiveness, they found no connection. This means that even though some women’s homes became more organized, this didn’t appear to be the reason the weight program helped them manage their weight gain.

The study found that household chaos scores tended to be slightly higher in late pregnancy compared to early pregnancy, suggesting that homes may become slightly more chaotic as pregnancy progresses. This makes sense because pregnancy can bring physical discomfort, fatigue, and preparation for a new baby. The study also showed that the intervention group and control group had similar patterns of household chaos change, meaning the weekly emails and coaching didn’t specifically reduce home stress.

Previous research has shown that household chaos is connected to childhood obesity, which is why researchers thought reducing chaos during pregnancy might help prevent obesity in children. However, this study suggests that weight management programs and home stress reduction may be separate issues that need different solutions. The findings align with other research showing that digital health programs are good at helping with specific behaviors like weight management, but may not address broader home environment issues.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only measured household chaos at two points in pregnancy, so researchers couldn’t see how it changed week by week. Second, the study ended at pregnancy and didn’t follow families after the baby was born, so we don’t know if the effects lasted. Third, the study only included women in the WIC program with lower incomes, so results may not apply to all pregnant women. Fourth, household chaos was measured using a questionnaire, which relies on women’s own reports rather than objective observations. Finally, the study couldn’t prove that the weight program caused the weight changes—other factors could have been involved.

The Bottom Line

If you’re pregnant and want to manage your weight gain, a digital program with weekly coaching and healthy eating/exercise information appears to help (moderate confidence). However, if you’re also struggling with a disorganized or stressful home, you should seek additional support specifically designed to help with home organization and stress management, as a weight program alone may not address these issues (moderate confidence). Talk to your healthcare provider about resources for both weight management and home stress reduction.

This research matters most for pregnant women with lower incomes who want to manage their weight during pregnancy. It’s also relevant for healthcare providers, WIC programs, and app developers who create pregnancy health programs. The findings suggest that if you’re pregnant and struggling with both weight management AND household stress, you may need two separate types of support rather than expecting one program to solve both problems.

Weight management improvements from the program appeared to happen over the course of pregnancy (about 6 months). However, household chaos didn’t change significantly during this same timeframe, suggesting that home stress reduction requires different interventions and may take longer to address.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly weight gain (aim for 1 pound per week in second and third trimester for most women) and separately track home stress using a simple 1-10 scale. This helps you see that weight and stress are different issues that may need different solutions.
  • Use the app to set two separate goals: one for healthy eating/exercise (which the program helps with) and one for home organization (like decluttering one small area per week). This acknowledges that you may need different strategies for each goal.
  • Check in weekly on weight gain progress through the app, but also add a separate monthly check-in about home stress and organization. If home stress isn’t improving after a month, consider adding a separate resource like a home organization app, stress management program, or counseling rather than expecting the pregnancy weight app to solve both problems.

This research describes one study about pregnancy weight management and home stress. It does not provide medical advice. If you are pregnant, always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for weight gain and prenatal care. If you’re experiencing significant stress or depression during pregnancy, talk to your doctor or mental health professional. The findings from this study should not replace personalized medical guidance from your obstetrician or midwife. Results may not apply to all pregnant women, especially those with different income levels or backgrounds.