The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to improve birth outcomes and long-term outcomes in mother and child by optimizing lifestyle,nutrition and stress experience in the preconception period and early pregnancy in women and men The main research question that will be addressed is: Does an intervention focused on optimizing preconception and early pregnancy lifestyle, nutrition and stress improve the birth outcomes and long-term outcomes in mother and child? Participants will receive an individual lifestyle consultation at the start of the study. Depending on their study arm, participants will receive an additional lifestyle program focused on health during preconception and early pregnancy, coping with stress and adherence to a healthy(er) lifestyle. The given advices are based on national guidelines. Researchers will compare the intervention group and control group to see if (adherence to) this lifestyle program improve birth outcomes and long-term outcomes in mother and child.
Preconception and early pregnancy are critical periods for health and wellbeing across the full life course in the offspring. Improving lifestyle, nutrition and stress in both women and their partners already from the preconception period onwards may have beneficial effects on the offspring. This RCT will include preconception/early pregnancy integrated life style intervention focused on a healthy weight (BMI: 18.5-25 kg/m2), stopping alcohol/smoking/drugs, supplementing folic acid and vitamin D, a healthy diet (weekly fish, iron and vitamin C rich food) and stress reduction. Reducing stress appears to be effective for improving (maternal) health and reducing risk behavior. Mind-body therapy, a combination of yoga exercises and mindfulness seems to be a popular intervention, especially among pregnant women or women of childbearing age from various ethnic backgrounds. The use of the preconception consultation is not yet optimal. This is partly due to the difficulty of reaching (vulnerable) groups and the limited insight regarding the efficacy. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to improve birth outcomes and long-term outcomes in mother and child by optimizing lifestyle in the preconception period and early pregnancy in women and men. The main research question is whether an intervention focused on optimizing preconception and early pregnancy lifestyle, nutrition and stress improves the birth outcomes and long-term outcomes in mother and child? This RCT will be embedded in the available Generation R Next research infrastructure. Prior to randomization, the intervention and control groups will be offered an individual lifestyle consultation for both women and men, and, if pregnant, an early pregnancy ultrasound. After randomization, there will be two groups: the intervention group and the control group. Both groups will receive standard care, including an individual lifestyle consultation in line with current national standards for preconception and early pregnancy. The intervention group will additionally attend three group sessions (online and physical) focused on health during preconception and early pregnancy, coping with stress and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. The advices are based on national guidelines for health during the preconception period and early pregnancy. Compliance with the prescribed advice is encouraged via newly developed digital platform
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,750
Individual lifestyle consultation
Lifestyle program focusing on lifestyle advice, coping with stress and adherence to a healthy(er) lifestyle. This program consists of 3 group sessions and an online platform.
Erasmus MC
Rotterdam, Netherlands
RECRUITINGPreterm birth
Birth of the child before 37 weeks of pregnancy
Time frame: Assessed at birth
Low birthweight/small-for-gestational-age
Birthweight below 10th percentile corrected for gestational age
Time frame: Assessed at birth
High birthweight/large-for-gestational-age
Birthweight above 90th percentile corrected for gestational age
Time frame: Assessed at birth
Low Apgar-score
Apgar-score assessed 5 minutes after birth, below 7 is considered as low with higher chance on worse outcome (scale: 0-10)
Time frame: Assessed at birth
Birth weight
Birth weight measured continuously
Time frame: Assessed at birth
Adherence to lifestyle advice (mother)
Lifestyle changes assessed via questionnaires during the study period
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Sleep/wake rhythm (mother)
Sleep/wake rhythm assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ). 12 items
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Sleep/wake rhythm (mother)
Sleep/wake rhythm assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the General Sleep Disturbances Questionnaire. 22 items, responses are given on an eight-point scale ranging from 0 (no days) to 7 (every day). The total score for the scale ranges between 0 and 154, with higher scores indicating a higher frequency of sleep disturbances.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Social support (mother)
Social support assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the Adaptive Functioning Scales Spouse/Partner. 6 items with 6-point Likert scale.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Experience of stress (mother)
Experience of stress assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the brief symptom inventory (BSI). 53 items with 5-point Likert scale.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Weight gain during pregnancy (mother)
Weight gain during pregnancy assessed via questionnaires during the study period and with weight measurements during the pregnancy visits at the research center measured in kilogram
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Weight maintenance after 6 and 12 months pregnancy (mother)
Weight maintenance after 6 and 12 months of pregnancy assessed via questionnaires during the study period
Time frame: 12 months after birth of the child
Time to pregnancy (mother)
Time to pregnancy assessed via questionnaires regarding menstrual period and conception during the study period
Time frame: At delivery
Occurrence of miscarriage (mother)
Occurrence of miscarriage assessed via questionnaires during the study period
Time frame: At delivery
Glucose metabolism and diabetes during pregnancy (mother)
Glucose metabolism assessed via taken blood samples (measured: glucose in mmol/L, normal range: 4-8 mmol/L) at visits in first trimester and 30 weeks of pregnancy
Time frame: At delivery
Occurrence of gestational hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (mother)
Occurrence of gestational hypertensive disorders assessed via questionnaires during the study period and with blood pressure measurements during the pregnancy visits at the research center measured in systolic and diastolic millimetre of mercury (mmHg). Cutoff values: 140 systolic and 80 diastolic.
Time frame: At delivery
Adherence to lifestyle advice (partner)
Lifestyle changes assessed via questionnaires during the study period
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Sleep/wake rhythm (partner)
Sleep/wake rhythm assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ). 12 items
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Sleep/wake rhythm (partner)
Sleep/wake rhythm assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the General Sleep Disturbances Questionnaire. 22 items, responses are given on an eight-point scale ranging from 0 (no days) to 7 (every day). The total score for the scale ranges between 0 and 154, with higher scores indicating a higher frequency of sleep disturbances.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Social support (partner)
Social support assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the Adaptive Functioning Scales Spouse/Partner. 6 items with 6-point Likert scale.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Experience of stress (partner)
Experience of stress assessed via questionnaires during the study period with the brief symptom inventory (BSI). 53 items with 5-point Likert scale.
Time frame: During pregnancy and early childhood, until 12 months
Growth and adiposity (child)
Growth of the child assessed via questionnaires during the study period and via weight and height measurements at the consultation office (unit: kilograms and centimeters)
Time frame: 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of age
Development and behavior (child)
Development and behavior of the child assessed via questionnaires during the study period (Child Development Inventory. 30 items) and via behavioral assessment at the consultation office.
Time frame: 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of age
Overall health (child)
Overall health of the child assessed via questionnaires during the study period
Time frame: 1, 6 and 12 months of age
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