A healthy start, before pregnancy.
Planning a pregnancy?
The Begin Better Study wants to better understand how your lifestyle before pregnancy might affect your health and the health of your future baby.
If you live in South Australia, find out if you are eligible by taking this short survey;
What is the Begin Better Study?
The Begin Better Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) aims to understand whether improving your health before pregnancy, will improve health outcomes for you and your baby.
This study is interested in your health behaviours, like physical activity and nutrition, as well as sleep, managing stress and mental health.
We want to know how your lifestyle affects your health and that of your baby.
Why is this research important?
Research shows us that changes in diet and physical activity during pregnancy have limited clinical benefit for women or their baby.
But what about health, nutrition and physical activity before pregnancy?
We know that being above a healthy weight before pregnancy can increase the risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and caesarean birth, and have greater risks for babies too.
It may be that the best way to reduce these health risks is to improve a woman’s physical and mental health before becoming pregnant by making positive lifestyle changes.
What study group will I be in?
A randomised trial means you will be allocated by chance to one of these groups ; the Lifestyle Intervention group or the Educational Control group.
What is involved?
You (and your partner if they wish) will attend a number of short appointments with our research team to fill in some questionnaires, have some measurements taken and permit a blood test. You will meet with our study midwife, and access our scientifically-backed WebApp. If you are allocated to the Lifestyle Intervention group, you will also meet with a dietitian and our health coaches.
If you are to become pregnant, we will collect information about your pregnancy, your birth and your infant to 18 months of age.
Who can take part?
Because we are interested in how health and lifestyle before pregnancy affect your health and your baby’s health, and if you are planning to become pregnant in the next 2 years, you may be eligible.
If you are over 18 years of age, not currently pregnant and can attend an initial appointment in person in North Adelaide (South Australia) or at one of our two regional sites (Mount Gambier and Berri), you may be eligible.
Get in touch
If you would like to learn more, you can leave your contact details using the webform, or email directly and one of our research team will reach out to you. Alternatively, you can take the survey here to determine your eligibility.
Email
beginbetter@adelaide.edu.au
Phone
(08) 8161 8427