Table 2. Examples of codes clustered under subcategories and five major categories.

Categories	Lack of knowledge	Misconceptions	Eating for relief		Lack of support	Barriers to physical activity
Sub-categories			Psychological/emotional reasons	Physical reasons
Codes	Don't know why weight gain occurs	Gestational weight development is uncontrollable	Eating to feel calmer when stressed or anxious	Eating as a response to increased hunger	Feeling left alone after delivery	Pelvic joint pain
	Didn’t know how much weight gain was recommended	Breastfeeding always leads to substantial weight loss	Eating to feel less lonely and bored	Snacking decreased morning sickness	All focus is on the baby	Swollen feet
	Didn’t know what risks are involved with unhealthy weight development	Eating too much without concern or worries in the belief that it’s harmless to gain a lot of gestational weight	Eating for comfort when feeling depressed	Eating as a response to craving	Rejecting support because of shame for not being an able mother	Activity restrictions for medical reasons
				Eating to distract pelvic joint pain	Would have liked the info in writing, about what and how much to eat
				Eating to feel more energetic when tired from lack of sleep	Would have liked physical activity groups initiated from health care