Following on from our all-day Early-life Nutrition Masterclass, we have pulled together some of the key resources on the various topics covered throughout the day. To help you find the content you’re most interested in, it’s divided into three posts: pre-conception (this one!), pregnancy and postnatal/early-childhood nutrition.

We’ve included the key resources mentioned within the webinars, as well as additional practical resources and useful places to go to look for information on the topics, including websites and social media accounts. If you missed the live masterclass, you can watch the recordings.

Reports/Guidelines

The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030), Every Women Every Child. Global report which supports the evidence for better pre-conceptual health.

Pre-conception advice and management, Clinical Knowledge Summaries (2019), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Summary of NICE advice for pre-conception.

Health Matters: Reproductive Health and Pregnancy Planning (2018), Public Health England (PHE). Report supporting the importance of pre-conceptual health.

Making the Case for Preconception Care (2018), PHE. Planning and preparation for pregnancy to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Maternal and child nutrition (updated 2014), NICE. Public health guidelines by NICE, first published in 2008.

Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer (2014), Department of Health. Annual report with information on the importance of preconception health (Chapter 5).

FAO/WHO Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) (2014), World Health Organisation (WHO). Report supporting the importance of pre-conceptual health.

Preconception care to reduce maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity (2012), WHO. Report supporting the importance of pre-conceptual health.

Weight management before, during and after pregnancy (2010), NICE. Guidelines on body weight management which includes pre-pregnancy.

Studies/Research

Nutrition Education during the Preconception Period (2020), Maureen et al. Review into the evidence behind health promotion strategies to optimise nutrition.

Prenatal Nutritional Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Preterm Birth (2020), Best et al. Research into the role of nutrition and preterm birth.

Preconception health in England: a proposal for annual reporting with core metrics (2019), Stephenson et al. Research highlighting the importance of preconception health.

Dietary guideline adherence during preconception and pregnancy: A systematic review (2020), Leach et al. Systematic review into whether preconceptual women and pregnant women meet dietary goals.

Preconception management of women with obesity: A systematic review (2018), Price et al. Systematic review into the role of preconception weight loss and fertility and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant obese women.

Preconceptional and maternal obesity: epidemiology and health consequences (2016), Poston et al. Evidence into the risks associated with overweight/obesity during in pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy.

Modifiable early-life risk factors for childhood adiposity and overweight: an analysis of their combined impact and potential for prevention (2015), Robinson et al. Study highlighting the importance of early-life risk factors and childhood overweight/obesity.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and child overweight: systematic review and meta-analysis (2008), Oken et al. Systematic review of studies reporting on the association between maternal prenatal cigarette smoking and child overweight.

Practical Resources

Planning for Pregnancy, Tommy’s. A digital tool for women who are planning a pregnancy supported by the National Health Service (NHS), Public Health England (PHE), EGA Institute for Women’s Health, Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

Planning your pregnancy (2020), NHS. Advice for pre-pregnancy including recommendations for folic acid, alcohol, weight and healthy eating.

Folic Acid (2019), British Dietetic Association (BDA). Advice for folic acid requirements during pregnancy and how to meet them.

Iodine (2019), BDA. All about iodine including advice for pregnant women, including the role of iodine pre-pregnancy.

Tips for a healthy pre-pregnancy diet (2018), Tommy’s. Tips for a healthy pre-pregnancy diet.

Eating well for a healthy pregnancy, a practical guide (2017), First Steps Nutrition Trust. A comprehensive practical guide for healthy nutrition during pregnancy including before pregnancy.

Eating well in pregnancy: A practical guide to support teenagers (2017), First Steps Nutrition Trust. A practical guide to support teenagers before and during pregnancy aged 15-19 years.

Pregnancy and Diet (2016), BDA. Healthy eating pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy.

Healthy eating and vitamin supplements in pregnancy (2014), RCOG. Healthy eating  in pregnancy including pre-pregnancy nutrition.

Eating well in pregnancy: A recipe guide for teenagers (2013), First Steps Nutrition Trust. A recipe guide for teenagers.

Blogs

Iodine recommendations for mum and baby (2018), SR Nutrition. Evidence based advice on iodine requirements including pre-pregnancy, written by UK registered nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.

Supplements to take pre-pregnancy (2017), SR Nutrition. A guide to which supplements are needed pre-pregnancy, written by UK registered nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.

Other Resources

Healthy Conversation Skills (2020), Healthy Conversation Skills. Training course around the principles of Making Every Contact Count, to help people support and manage their own health and wellbeing.

EACH-B, Lifelab Southampton. An initiative with an aim to build and test an intervention to help teenagers eat better and exercise more.

FIGO Nutrition Checklist, The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Brief nutrition questionnaire aimed at pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy.

Social media and websites

@Lifecourse_KCL Twitter for Kings College London.

@MRC_LEU Twitter account for the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton.

@BDAMaternal and @bda_maternalandfertility and BDA Maternal Health Twitter, Instagram and website for the specialist maternal and fertility BDA group.

@Nutrition4Baby Twitter account from the British Nutrition Foundation, with advice for before pregnancy as well as during and after.

@1stepsnutrition and First Steps Nutrition Trust Website Twitter handle and website for First Steps Nutrition Trust – independent UK Charity providing evidence based information and resources about good nutrition from pre-conception to 5 years.

@biteback2030 Instagram handle for youth-led charity campaigning to ensure all young people have access to affordable and healthy food.

@fertility.dietitian.uk Instagram handle for registered dietitian Ro Huntriss with a specialism into fertility and nutrition.

@sr_nutrition Instagram handle for Charlotte Stirling-Reed – Registered Baby and Child Nutritionist.

@drsarahbath Twitter handle for lecturer Dr Sarah Bath, with a research interest in iodine intake/status in the UK.