title: Oxfordshire Women and Their Children's Health (OxWATCH): protocol for a prospective cohort feasibility study.
abstract: Some specific pregnancy disorders are known to be associated with increased incidence of long-term maternal ill health (eg, gestational diabetes with late onset type 2 diabetes; pre-eclampsia with arterial disease). To what degree these later health conditions are a consequence of the woman's constitution prior to pregnancy rather than pregnancy itself triggering changes in a woman's health is unknown. Additionally, there is little prospective evidence for the impact of pre-pregnancy risk factors on the outcome of pregnancy. To understand the importance of pre-pregnancy health requires the recruitment of women into a long-term cohort study before their first successful pregnancy. The aim of this feasibility study is to test recruitment procedures and acceptability of participation to inform the planning of a future large-scale cohort study.
  
  
  
  The prospective cohort feasibility study will recruit nulliparous women aged 18-40 years. Women will be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess the acceptability of our recruitment and data collection procedures. Baseline biophysical, genetic, socioeconomic, behavioural and psychological assessments will be conducted and samples of blood, urine, saliva and DNA will be collected. Recruitment feasibility and retention rates will be assessed. Women who become pregnant will be recalled for pregnancy and postpregnancy assessments.
  
  
  
  The study protocol was approved by South Central Portsmouth REC (Ref: 12/SC/0492). The findings from the study will be disseminated through peer reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations and public events.
  
  
  
  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02419898.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petkovic
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevassut
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kenworthy
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selwood
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Snelgar
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heneghan
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leeson
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Redman
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Granne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: maternal health; pre-pregnancy; pregnancy