‘RCM announces alliance partnership with Kellogg’s All-Bran’
By RCM on 23 November 2016 RCM Pregnancy Kellogg's All Bran Good Health
Kellogg’s All-Bran has joined The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Alliance Programme.
This latest partnership aims to highlight the challenge of an almost global deficiency of fibre intake during pregnancy, and the subsequent consequences of constipation and poor digestive health.
Through the Alliance partnership, the RCM will work in conjunction with Kellogg’s All Bran to help midwives further support mothers-to-be in improving their wheat bran fibre intake during their pregnancy and beyond.
Kellogg’s All-Bran sponsored a breakfast session at the RCM Annual Conference in October and is offering RCM members free access to an online training module on the science of dietary fibre and digestive health which has been developed specifically for midwives.
Carmel Lloyd is Head of Learning and Education at the RCM and says; “The RCM welcomes Kellogg’s All Bran to our Alliance Programme. The importance of a well balanced nutritious diet during pregnancy cannot be overlooked and its vital pregnant women are consuming enough wheat fibre daily throughout their pregnancy. We look forward working with Kellogg’s All Bran and hope it will benefit our members and in turn, the women and babies that midwives care for.”
Catriona Campbell, All-Bran Nutritionist at Kellogg’s Europe, said: “Partnering with the RCM provides Kellogg’s with important new opportunities to help raise awareness of the important role of eating an adequate amount of fibre during pregnancy.
‘Simple steps to boost wheat bran fibre intake could help to alleviate the discomforts of constipation, and its clinical consequences, experienced by thousands of pregnant women every year.”
More information about the RCM Alliance programme can be found at: Who we work with and https://www.kelloggsnutrition.com/en_UK/knowledge/Pregnancy/RCM-alliance.html
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Notes to editors
The Royal College of Midwives Alliance Programme was set up in 2004 to develop strategic relationships between the RCM and selected commercial organisations to enhance the work of the RCM. The RCM works with Alliance partners to promote the interests of midwives and support pregnant women, babies and their families. The Alliance Programme extends the reach of RCM campaigns and activity by widening contact with families at key life stages.
Each partnership is unique, but common to all are the shared values of trust, honesty and integrity, and a commitment to support midwifery. Partners are actively involved in celebrating midwifery achievements at the RCM Annual Midwifery Awards and providing support for the RCM Annual Conference and other RCM events. Additionally, the RCM works with Alliance partners to develop valuable resources for midwives and mothers.
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.
Fibre intakes of women in the UK are low at around 17g per day (Bates, 2014) compared to the recommended intake of 30g (SACN, 2015). Female pregnancy hormones relax muscles and slow passage of waste through the bowels (Derbyshire, 2006). Around 40% of pregnant women suffer from constipation (Derbyshire, 2006) but simple lifestyle changes to increase intake of dietary fibre (particularly wheat bran fibre) and fluids could result in a reduction of these side effects during pregnancy. Clinical guidelines advise increasing intake of wheat bran fibre as a first-line approach to treating constipation (NICE, 2016). Wheat bran is found in some breakfast cereals, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread, items baked with wholemeal flour e.g. pastry, scones, biscuits etc. A bowl of Kellogg’s All-Bran Original contains 11g wheat bran fibre per serving and represents an easy way to incorporate wheat bran fibre in to the diet. Consuming 10g of wheat bran fibre per day is proven to reduce digestive transit time & increase faecal bulk (European Food Safety Authority, 2010) and is a more effective laxative compared to other commonly consumed fibre sources (De Vries, 2016).
Bates B et al (2014) National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Results from Years 1-4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009 – 2011/12). Department Health, London.
SACN (2015) Dietary Carbohydrates and Health. TSO, London
Derbyshire E et al (2006) Diet, Physical inactivity and the prevalence of constipation throughout and after pregnancy. Matern Child Nutr 2:127-134.
NICE guidelines [CG62] (2016) Antenatal care for uncomplicated pregnancies. www.nice.org.uk.
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (2010) Wheat bran fibre related health claims. www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/doc/1817.pdf.
De Vries J et al (2016) Effects of cereal, fruit and vegetable fibers on human fecal weight and transit time: a comprehensive review of intervention trials. Nutrients 8: 130; doi:10.3390/nu8030130