RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 G500(P) Early nutrition for later health: why ‘early’ should start in pregnancy
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP A215
OP A215
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2015-308599.453
VO 100
IS Suppl 3
A1 J More
YR 2015
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/100/Suppl_3/A215.1.abstract
AB AimsTo research the evidence base underpinning the short and long term effects of nutritional status and insufficiency during fetal and infant lifeTo assess the knowledge base of healthcare professionals and the resources available to them and parents to optimise nutritional advice for families during this key developmental period MethodsAn extensive literature search and interviews with key experts in the fieldQualitative and quantitative surveys of 150 healthcare professionals and 1,000 mothers/mothers-to-be to understand perceptions/attitudes and the level of knowledge about the impact of nutrition and lifestyle during preconception, pregnancy, infancy and the preschool years on health outcomes. ResultsMaternal nutritional status and BMI during preconception and pregnancy impacts on programming and development in the fetus, affecting short and long term health outcomes of mother and childMaternal obesity and excess gestational weight gain affects hormonal balance and increases risk of complications in pregnancy and obesity in the infant and childhoodMaternal nutritional status and type of infant feeding affects growth, bone health, risk of some infections and atopic disease in children with a family history of allergyKnowledge base and training of some HCPs is inadequate and most would welcome more training and consultation timeWeighing during pregnancy, calculating pre pregnancy BMI and advising on suitable gestational weight gain is not routineAdvice on healthy eating and supplementation to ensure adequate intakes of folate, vitamin D, iodine, iron and omega 3 during preconception and pregnancy is not routineMothers would welcome more advice and support during preconception and, pregnancy and on early life nutrition Conclusion Families need updated, consistent evidence based information on nutrition and weight management preconception, during pregnancy and early life and HCPs need more time, resources and training to effectively deliver this.