Registered dietitians in Canada want to play a bigger role in prenatal care but face barriers like lack of referrals from doctors and limited teamwork with other healthcare providers. According to Gram Research analysis of this qualitative study, 11 Canadian dietitians identified six key themes showing that nutrition experts believe their services should be routinely included in standard prenatal care to improve the nutritional health of pregnant individuals.
A new Canadian study asked 11 registered dietitians about their experiences helping pregnant people with nutrition. According to Gram Research analysis, these nutrition experts say they want to play a bigger role in prenatal care to help pregnant individuals eat better. The dietitians identified major barriers—like not being included in healthcare teams—and ways to improve, such as better communication with doctors and midwives. This research highlights that nutrition during pregnancy is important, but many pregnant people aren’t getting enough guidance from nutrition specialists.
Key Statistics
A qualitative study of 11 Canadian registered dietitians found six major themes about prenatal nutrition care, with dietitians emphasizing the need for greater integration of nutrition services into standard prenatal care teams.
According to research reviewed by Gram, registered dietitians identified significant barriers to prenatal care involvement, including lack of referrals from healthcare providers and limited collaboration with doctors and midwives.
A 2026 Canadian study of 11 registered dietitians revealed that nutrition experts want to enhance the nutritional health of pregnant individuals through improved integration into prenatal healthcare systems.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How registered dietitians (nutrition experts) experience providing nutrition care to pregnant people in Canada, and what challenges and opportunities they see
- Who participated: 11 registered dietitians in Canada who work with pregnant patients and speak English. They shared their experiences through interviews and surveys
- Key finding: Dietitians identified six major themes, including that they want better integration into prenatal care teams and face barriers like lack of referrals and limited collaboration with doctors and midwives
- What it means for you: If you’re pregnant or planning to be, this research suggests that asking your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian could help you get personalized nutrition advice. However, this study reflects dietitians’ perspectives, not direct patient outcomes
The Research Details
Researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 11 registered dietitians across Canada using a semi-structured format, meaning they asked prepared questions but allowed for natural conversation. They also collected survey responses. All interviews were recorded, written out word-for-word, and carefully analyzed to find common themes and patterns in what the dietitians said.
The researchers used a method called thematic analysis, which is like reading through all the interviews, highlighting similar ideas, and grouping them into larger themes. This approach is designed to understand people’s experiences and perspectives rather than test a specific hypothesis.
The study used convenience sampling, meaning they recruited dietitians who were available and willing to participate, rather than randomly selecting from all Canadian dietitians. This approach is practical but may not represent all dietitians’ experiences equally.
Understanding dietitians’ experiences is important because they’re nutrition experts who could help pregnant people eat well, but many pregnant individuals may not know to ask for their help. By learning what barriers dietitians face, healthcare systems can make changes to better support both pregnant people and the professionals trying to help them.
This is a qualitative study, which means it focuses on understanding experiences and perspectives rather than measuring specific outcomes. The small sample size (11 dietitians) means findings reflect these particular professionals’ views and may not apply to all dietitians. The study provides valuable insight into dietitians’ perspectives but doesn’t measure whether dietitian involvement actually improves pregnancy outcomes. The use of verbatim transcription and systematic coding strengthens the reliability of the findings.
What the Results Show
Six main themes emerged from the interviews. First, dietitians described their role in prenatal care as important but often underutilized. Second, they shared opinions about what standard prenatal nutrition care should include. Third, they identified significant barriers to their involvement, such as not being referred by doctors, lack of awareness about their services, and limited time for consultations.
Fourth, dietitians discussed facilitators—things that help them do their job better—including strong relationships with other healthcare providers, clear referral pathways, and supportive healthcare systems. Fifth, they described how they provide nutrition information to pregnant patients, using various teaching methods and resources. Sixth, they emphasized the importance of collaboration with doctors, midwives, and other prenatal healthcare providers.
Overall, the dietitians expressed a desire for greater integration into prenatal care teams. They believe that nutrition is crucial during pregnancy and that their expertise should be more routinely included in standard prenatal care rather than only when specific problems arise.
The study revealed that dietitians feel their expertise is often overlooked in prenatal care planning. Many noted that pregnant individuals don’t know they can access dietitian services, and doctors may not routinely refer patients to nutrition specialists. Dietitians also discussed the importance of culturally sensitive nutrition advice and the need for better resources tailored to pregnant populations. The research suggests that improving communication between dietitians and other healthcare providers could enhance prenatal nutrition care.
This study adds to existing research showing that nutrition during pregnancy significantly impacts both mother and baby health. Previous research has documented the importance of adequate nutrition for preventing complications and supporting fetal development. This qualitative study complements that body of work by explaining why nutrition services aren’t always available to pregnant people—it’s not because nutrition doesn’t matter, but because of systemic barriers and lack of integration in healthcare teams.
The study included only 11 dietitians, all English-speaking, from Canada, so findings may not represent all dietitians’ experiences or apply to other countries with different healthcare systems. The convenience sampling method means the dietitians who participated may have different views than those who didn’t volunteer. The study captures dietitians’ perspectives but doesn’t directly measure whether increased dietitian involvement improves pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, the study doesn’t include pregnant people’s perspectives on whether they want or need more dietitian involvement.
The Bottom Line
If you’re pregnant or planning pregnancy, consider asking your healthcare provider for a referral to a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition guidance (moderate confidence—based on expert opinion). Ensure your prenatal care team includes nutrition support, especially if you have specific dietary needs or health conditions (moderate confidence). Healthcare systems should work to integrate dietitian services into standard prenatal care rather than treating nutrition as optional (moderate confidence—based on expert recommendations).
Pregnant individuals and those planning pregnancy should care about this research because it highlights that nutrition experts want to help but often aren’t included in care. Healthcare providers, doctors, and midwives should care because it shows opportunities to improve prenatal care. Healthcare administrators and policymakers should care because it identifies systemic changes that could enhance prenatal nutrition services.
Changes in nutrition habits during pregnancy can support fetal development throughout the nine-month pregnancy. However, systemic changes to integrate dietitian services into prenatal care may take months to years to implement at the healthcare system level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I see a dietitian during pregnancy?
Research shows registered dietitians can provide personalized nutrition guidance during pregnancy. Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian, especially if you have specific dietary needs, health conditions, or questions about eating well during pregnancy.
What do dietitians say about prenatal nutrition care in Canada?
Canadian dietitians report that nutrition is crucial during pregnancy but their services aren’t routinely included in prenatal care. They want better integration into healthcare teams and clearer referral pathways so more pregnant individuals can access nutrition expertise.
Why aren’t more pregnant people seeing dietitians?
According to research, barriers include doctors not routinely referring pregnant patients to dietitians, lack of awareness about available services, and limited collaboration between nutrition specialists and prenatal healthcare teams.
What barriers do dietitians face in prenatal care?
Dietitians identified barriers such as not being included in prenatal care planning, insufficient referrals from healthcare providers, limited time for consultations, and lack of awareness among pregnant individuals about nutrition services.
How can prenatal care teams better support nutrition?
Research suggests improving communication between dietitians and other healthcare providers, establishing clear referral pathways, and integrating nutrition services into standard prenatal care rather than treating them as optional services.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly nutrition goals during pregnancy, such as servings of fruits, vegetables, protein sources, and prenatal vitamins. Log whether you’ve consulted with a registered dietitian and note any nutrition-related questions or concerns to discuss at appointments.
- Use the app to set a reminder to ask your healthcare provider for a dietitian referral at your next prenatal appointment. Create a list of nutrition questions to discuss with a dietitian, such as weight gain targets, food safety during pregnancy, or managing pregnancy-related nutrition challenges.
- Track your prenatal nutrition consultations and follow-up appointments with a dietitian. Monitor whether you’re receiving personalized nutrition guidance and note any changes in your nutrition knowledge or confidence in eating well during pregnancy. Share this information with your healthcare team to ensure coordinated care.
This article summarizes research on registered dietitians’ experiences providing prenatal nutrition care. It does not constitute medical advice. Pregnant individuals should consult with their healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition guidance during pregnancy. This study reflects dietitians’ professional perspectives and does not directly measure pregnancy outcomes. Individual nutrition needs vary based on health status, dietary preferences, and medical history.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.