The dietary beliefs and attitudes of women who have had a low-birthweight baby: a retrospective preconception study

Background and aims A poor diet in the preconception period is believed to lead to an increased chance of the subsequent baby being born with a low bi rth weight (LBW) and in particular symmetrically growth retarded (where bot h the head and the body are proportionately small). The aim of this study w as to determine whether a woman's diet, social background and attitude towa rds diet has any bearing on the incidence of LBW. Method A questionnaire was administered to 31 mothers who had had a LBW bab y and 29 age-matched controls who had normal birthweight babies (NBW) in or der to discover whether there were differences between their diets and beli efs and attitudes to healthy eating. Results The LBW group were significantly more likely to have lost weight pr ior to conception (3-6 months before) while the NBW mothers were more likel y to have gained weight prior to conception. The LBW group were more likely to have had a previous LBW baby. Only 9% of mothers changed their diet in anticipation of pregnancy with only 7% of mothers having taken folic acid p rior to conception (although most of the questionnaires were administered p rior to the folic acid campaign). Conclusion and recommendations The majority of mothers welcomed more inform ation on nutrition in relation to preconception care and indicated that boo klets would be the most appreciated form of receiving this information. Thi s may encourage mothers to make appropriate changes to their diet before co nception, including taking folic acid. It is proposed that a nationwide boo klet be made widely available to all women of reproductive age which highli ghts the important preconception points.