Nutrition in Multiple Pregnancy (Feasibility study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Nutrition in Multiple Pregnancy: examining the feasibility of a prospective study of dietary intake, weight changes and the nutrition related experiences of women expecting more than one baby
IRAS ID
310462
Contact name
Hazel Billson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 2 days
Research summary
Over nine and a half thousand women living in England or Wales had a multiple birth in 2019, comprising 9513 sets of twins, 143 triple sets, plus six births with four or more babies. In comparison to a singleton pregnancy, multiple pregnancies carry increased health risks for both mother and babies. Pregnant women are known to have higher requirements for some nutrients than non-pregnant women, but in the UK there is an absence of dietary guidance specific to multiple pregnancies and further research has been recommended.
We plan to undertake a prospective study of women attending the Multiple Pregnancy Clinic (MPC) at Liverpool Women's Hospital (LWH). We will seek informed consent to enrol women to a study where we will assess their dietary intake in the second trimester using a 3 day food diary completed by the women plus a 24 hour recall of food intake at 28 weeks of pregnancy. We will weigh the participants when they attend clinic appointments to assess weight changes during the pregnancy. Additionally we will use questionnaires to enquire about the occurrence of symptoms which may relate to food intake such as nausea/vomiting, constipation, heartburn, anaemia, gestational diabetes and fatigue. We will also
enquire about changes in appetite, food preferences/cravings, sources and preferences for nutrition information.
Three months after the birth of the babies, we will contact participants to ask about post-pregnancy weight retention, mode of infant feeding and their experience of participating in the study. Using data routinely collected at the hospital we plan to
examine for evidence of any association between the nutrition status of the mother and the outcome of the pregnancy.
This application is for a nine month feasibility study to test the above methods and gather preliminary data. We plan to subsequently apply for permission and funding for a fully powered study.REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0138
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion