'Weighing as part of your care': a feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Re-introducing routine weighing of women during pregnancy: a feasibility study. 'Weighing as part of your care'.
IRAS ID
191616
Contact name
Michelle McKinley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy is associated with negative consequences for mother and child, both during the course of pregnancy and long term. Given the many adverse consequences linked to excess gestational weight gain, it is important to determine appropriate amounts of weight gain across pregnancy. However, there are currently no evidence-based UK guidelines on safe ranges of gestational weight gain. In order to collect the data required to inform such guidelines a change in antenatal practice would be needed, by taking regular weight measurements throughout pregnancy as currently women are only weighed once during their pregnancy, at the booking in appointment. Given that routine weighing has not been part of standard care for many years now, there are important factors to consider before it could be reinstated, such as how women might receive being regularly weighed and the potential impact on health professionals. The aim of this research is to re-introduce measurement of weight at each routine antenatal visit in a small scale study, in order to determine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the practice on a larger scale. This will be evaluated through use of study records (i.e. recording weight measurements, numbers consenting to be weighed) and interviews with a sub-sample of women who were weighed throughout their pregnancies, and with health professionals involved in the project.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/2070
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion