Summary
Women who were less than 12-weeks pregnant and planning to have their baby at the Royal Victoria Infirmary at Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust were eligible to take part in SHAPES.
Some pregnant participants were contacted in advance and were booked into a specific clinic for their routine 12-week scan appointment, these were usually on a Tuesday and Thursday. Some pregnant women who were attending their routine 12-week scan on these days were also approached to take part in the study.
During the scan appointment
When the participants attended their scan appointment at the RVI they met with a member of the clinical research team to discuss the research in more detail and to sign a consent form.
The routine dating scan was completed by a sonographer from the clinical research team, who also took the extra ultrasound measurements needed for the SHAPES study. The sonographer also measured the thickness of the layer of tissue around the participant's tummy. These measurements only added an additional 5 minutes to the ultrasound appointment.
How the measurements were taken
After the ultrasound scan, participants were moved to another private room for the other SHAPES measurements, which were taken by a fully trained female member of the Newcastle University or clinical research team.
We were aware that some women might not be completely comfortable with their body shape/size or being measured and the clinical and research team were sensitive to any concerns of participants.
Each participant's height was measured with shoes removed and their weight was measured, in light clothing.
Waist size was measured using a tape measure.
Hip size was measured over light clothing using a tape measure.
Neck size was measured directly on the skin using a tape measure.
Arm size was measured directly on the skin using a tape measure.
And the skinfolds were measured directly on the skin using an instrument called a calliper.
Belly skinfolds
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Back skinfolds
After the appointment
Participation by pregnant women was only required for the measurements taken during the 12-week ultrasound appointment. The research team collected the rest of the data needed for SHAPES from each participant's routine maternity records, after their baby was born. The information gathered was about each participant's pregnancy, for example, how their baby was born, to help us identify which women would benefit most from extra care during pregnancy.
As a thank you for taking part in the study, each participant received photographs of their 12-week scan and they were also able to take part in a prize draw to win 40 x £100 gift vouchers.
