Researcher Examines Nutritional Guidance for Expecting Mothers

In a significant exploration of prenatal nutrition, Jasna Twynstra, a professor and graduate chair at the Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, has launched a research initiative aimed at improving nutritional guidance for pregnant individuals. This effort stems from her personal experiences during her first pregnancy, which raised critical questions about the availability and quality of nutritional advice provided by healthcare professionals in Canada.

Twynstra, who also serves as an associate scientist with the Children’s Health Research Institute, initially focused her research on how blood delivers nutrients throughout the body. However, her transition into prenatal nutrition was driven by her desire to make informed dietary choices for herself and her baby. “I noticed there wasn’t a lot of research in Canada on how health-care providers are trained, or how much they know about giving nutrition advice to pregnant people,” she expressed.

Addressing Gaps in Prenatal Nutrition Training

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the health of both the mother and the child, influencing outcomes such as birth weight and the risk of complications like preterm birth and obesity. Despite this importance, Twynstra found that many healthcare providers lack adequate training in nutrition, often leaving pregnant individuals seeking more comprehensive guidance.

“Currently, a pregnant person’s first source of nutrition guidance is often their family doctor,” Twynstra noted. “However, despite having up-to-date recommendations, health-care providers don’t necessarily receive a lot of education on nutrition. Pregnant people report they would like more information from them.” This disconnect highlights the need for improved training for healthcare professionals to ensure they can adequately support their patients.

Twynstra’s ongoing research investigates the nutrition education provided to healthcare trainees in medical schools and various clinical settings. “By starting at this foundational level, I can identify what’s being taught and what’s missing,” she explained. The goal is to equip the next generation of healthcare providers with the knowledge necessary to guide pregnant individuals effectively.

Challenges and Solutions in Nutritional Guidance

One of the challenges identified in Twynstra’s research is the time constraints faced by healthcare providers during patient consultations. For instance, midwives tend to have longer appointments, allowing them to cover a wider range of nutritional topics compared to family doctors or obstetricians. Twynstra advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to care, recommending referrals to registered dieticians to ensure that pregnant individuals receive comprehensive nutritional support.

“The current system is somewhat patchwork,” she stated. “What healthcare providers can offer their patients largely depends on their own education and awareness of nutrition experts.” This variability can lead to inconsistent advice, which Twynstra sees as a major challenge in the field of prenatal nutrition.

“The questions I had during my own pregnancy are driving my research,” she emphasized. “I believe they are common questions asked by many pregnant people. I want to ensure they receive answers supported by research, and that those answers are consistent regardless of their healthcare provider.”

With her research, Twynstra aims not only to enhance the training of healthcare professionals but also to empower pregnant individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed dietary choices throughout their pregnancy. The impact of improved nutritional guidance could extend beyond pregnancy, positively influencing long-term health outcomes for both mothers and their children.