Mum's Pride

Families taking part in the Children Growing Up in Liverpool study have been speaking about their experiences and encouraging more people to get involved and help improve the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Nina Powell and Emilia Bona both agreed to get involved as they want to help improve the health outcomes for children in Liverpool.

They have shared their experiences in the media in articles for the Liverpool Echo, The Guide Liverpool and on BBC TV and radio.

Nina, whose son Oliver was the first C-GULL baby born, told The Guide Liverpool: “I read the information about C-GULL and why they are conducting the study and discovered that children in Liverpool at the moment, as in other areas of the UK, are more likely to have health problems like asthma and allergies, and that just seemed wrong and unfair.

“When you have children you never really think of the fact that where you live could influence their health in the future to that degree.

“I agree that something needs to be done, if it can, to change things – and the only way that can happen is to find out what’s causing it. It’s the only way to ensure an equal chance for children in Liverpool.”

While Emilia, whose son Hywel was born in October 2023, told The Echo she and some other mums she is friends with had agreed to take part, adding: “We all decided that we would go for it because it seemed like a really worthwhile thing to be involved in. Anyone who lives in this city can tell you why there are outcomes that are different to children that are born here, to children that are born in some of the most privileged parts of the UK.

"Some of the questions you're asked go into how often you have to access food banks, how often you have to make choices between feeding yourself or your children. These are questions I think other people in the UK will never ever have to think about, but they are a reality for a lot of families and expectant mothers in Merseyside."

Nina and Oliver met up with Emilia and Hywel when they filmed a special report about C-GULL for BBC North-West, along with research midwife Amy Mahdi. Amy explained that the study would look at things that happen in the participants' early lives "to try and work out what it is that we can do to make recommendations for people's health [and] improve the health of children that do grow up in Liverpool".

Children Growing Up in Liverpool, C-GULL aims to track 10,000 babies and their families from early in pregnancy through to childhood and beyond.

The first of its kind across the Liverpool City Region, it aims to gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors that shape health outcomes.

Researchers will collect information on a baby’s biological, physical, and mental health, as well as the home environment and more.

Nina explained that she has filled in a questionnaire about her and husband Simon’s health and lifestyle. She added: “At the first appointment I was given to chance to donate samples – of blood, urine and hair – but you can choose if you want to do that or not; and at the second appointment I filled in another questionnaire.  It was easy and very straightforward.”

Hywel has also been monitored since he was in the womb as part of the programme.

"It didn't take up much of our time at all," Emilia said.

"We went into the women's hospital twice while I was pregnant, once in the early stages and once towards the end. They took a couple of samples that were really non-invasive."

Women are eligible to take part in the study if their pregnancy is in the first 12-16 weeks, they are aged 16 years and older and they have booked for their maternity care to be provided by Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Parents who participate in C-GULL will receive additional health checks and support for themselves and their child during pregnancy and childhood.