Reproduction Abstracts

Background: Food-related sensory alterations in pregnant women, particularly those suffering from Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy (NVP), can impact food appreciation, selection, and overall diet quality. However, the associations between NVP severity, sensory perception and dietary choices remain poorly understood.

Objective: This is a protocol for a study that aims to investigate the relationships between NVP severity and changes in food choices and perception, as well as to explore coping mechanisms employed by pregnant women to manage symptoms.

Method: This is a mixed method combining quantitative and qualitative data. The study targets 600 french-speaking pregnant women who are under 16 weeks of gestation and present varying levels of NVP severity. An online questionnaire will be distributed between January and June 20205. The questionnaire will include inquiries on pregnancy history, demographics, NVP severity (PUQE score), sensory changes, presence and number of cravings and aversions, evaluation of the ability of food items and sensory stimuli to trigger or alleviate nausea and/or vomiting, and open-ended questions regarding food-related coping mechanisms. From the questionnaire responses, 20 women with moderate or severe NVP (PUQE ≥ 7) will be invited to participate in semi-directive interviews. The interview guide will cover food and sensory experience since pregnancy onset, voluntary and involuntary dietary changes, internal and external symptoms management strategies and coping mechanisms, and availability and effectiveness of specific food strategies and recommendations.

Analysis: Descriptive analyses will characterize the sample. Regression models will assess relationships between NVP severity and variables such as sensory changes, number of cravings and aversions and dietary adjustments. Analysis of variance will compare groups based on NVP severity (none, moderate, severe/HG). Thematic analysis will be applied on interviews transcripts to identify common themes regarding food experience and sensory/dietary strategies.

Results: Anticipated findings include increased degree of sensory alterations for greater NVP severity; increased number of food cravings and aversions in women with higher NVP severity; identification of common coping mechanisms and dietary strategies to alleviate symptoms. These findings aim to inform tailored dietary recommendations and support strategies for pregnant women experiencing NVP, contributing to improved quality of life.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Nausea, Vomiting, Sensory, Dietary adjustments