Southampton Women's Survey
Southampton Women's Survey
The Southampton Women's Survey was established to assess the influence of factors operating
 before conception and during pregnancy on the health and development of the offspring. 12,583
 non-pregnant young women were recruited, and 3,158 were followed through pregnancy, with
 their offspring followed-up at 6 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-7, 8-9 and 12-13 years. The 17-19
 year follow-up has been piloted and is about to start.
The Southampton Women's Survey (SWS) was established to assess the influence of factors
 operating before conception and during pregnancy on the health and development of the
 offspring. 12,583 non-pregnant young women were recruited and the subsequent offspring of
 3158 of them are being followed-up. Few other longitudinal studies of children have data on
 the tempo of prenatal growth, and none in high-income countries has information recorded
 before pregnancy.

 The objectives of the SWS are: (a) to characterise the influences of a mother's own fetal
 growth and of her dietary balance, body composition and endocrine profile before and during
 pregnancy on (i) the early trajectory of fetal growth; (ii) the maintenance of this growth
 trajectory in late gestation; and (iii) placental and fetal adaptive responses, (b) to
 examine how maternal and intrauterine influences interact with the offspring's genes and
 postnatal environment to determine: (i) weight gain and linear catch-up growth in infancy;
 (ii) the pathways of growth and development during childhood that lead to poor adult health
 (obesity, obstructive airways disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis).

 Between 1998 and 2002, 12,583 women aged 20 to 34 years were interviewed and their diet, body
 composition, physical activity levels, lifestyles and social circumstances were assessed.
 Blood, urine and mouthwash samples were collected for genetic and other analyses. Women who
 subsequently became pregnant were followed-up at 11, 19 and 34 weeks' gestation and fetal
 ultrasound scans were performed to obtain longitudinal measurements of fetal growth during
 pregnancy. Between 1998 and 2007, 3,158 women delivered a single live born infant. Biological
 samples were taken and anthropometric measurements of the baby were made within 48 hours of
 birth. In a sample of 1,000 children, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed in
 the first two weeks of life.

 The children were followed up at ages 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A variety of assessments were
 made at the different follow-up interviews including breastfeeding, diet, anthropometry, and
 illnesses. At 24 months, the social circumstances of the family were assessed and, at 36
 months, parenting, and emotional and behavioural issues were recorded. Subsequently, samples
 of the cohort have been seen at specific ages; at 4 years approximately 1,000 cohort
 participants; at 6-7 years approximately 2,000, and at 8-9 years approximately 1,000. At each
 time point from 4 years, body composition and bone indices were assessed using DXA; at 4
 years, cognitive function was measured, at 6-7 years the focus was respiratory health and
 cognitive function, and at 8-9 years cardiovascular structure and function. Over 1000 child
 have been seen at age 12-13 years and the visits at 17-19 years of age have been piloted and
 are about to start with a focus on preparation for parenthood. Furthermore, plans are being
 developed to follow up the 12,583 women originally recruited to the SWS to assess the
 influence of their younger adult lifestyles, body composition and hormones on their
 transition through the menopause.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Not pregnant, resident in Southampton UK.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  GP requested no contact