An awareness-raising coffee morning at Addenbrooke’s Hospital reunited mothers and babies who had taken part in the Cambridge Baby Growth study, which is supported by the Mothercare Group Foundation.

Launched in 2001 and part-funded by the Medical Research Council, the study recruits mothers in early pregnancy when they visit the Rosie Maternity Hospital for their first scan, and is follows them till the child is two years old.

The measurements and samples collected will help researchers to find out whether specific environmental and inherited factors are important in regulating the growth and development of babies during pregnancy and in the first couple of years of life.

More than 2000 samples are already available as a resource for researchers to work with using the latest technology.

Parents are also asked to fill in questionnaires about their lifestyles and diet.

The ensuing data provides insights for various University Departments such as Social Psychology and the Autism Research Centre.

Research Children’s Nurse Anne-Marie Wardell said “It was great to see some of the Mums and children we have worked with back together again. This is a great project which everyone enjoys and values taking part in. The Children’s Nurses are highly trained, the atmosphere is very relaxed with plenty of play therapy, and the measurements we take – height weight, head circumference, and body fat, plus ultrasound abdominal tests - help the parents see how their child is growing and developing while providing a really useful data resource.”

Both the Area Manager for Mothercare and the Manager of the Cambridge store attended the coffee morning.

Principal Investigator Professor Ieuan Hughes from the University's Department of Paediatrics said:  "It was a morning of fun and laughter. The children were entertained by a magician and balloon modeller, and received goody bags courtesy of the Mothercare representatives. While we are no longer recruiting new mothers into the scheme, mothers already on it are keen to be involved when they become pregnant again. To keep the scheme going we need to raise more funds to keep the Research Nurses employed and reatin their expertise." 

 

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