Participants and recruitment

We sought to recruit 8–12 first-time pregnant women who were less than 36 weeks gestation, and able to speak and read English to fully participate in the jury. Women requiring specialist obstetric care or specialist dietetic advice for any reason were excluded.

All independent LMC midwives known to be practising in the Southland region, NZ (n 18) were phoned and invited to recruit women for the study. The purpose of the study and the CJ concept were explained. Five agreed to recruit eligible women. They were sent copies of the study participant information sheet, participant consent form and the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study posters were displayed at the public library and at a local Māori health provider clinic. The posters included the researchers’ contact details, stated that refreshments would be provided during the CJ and a $NZ30 grocery voucher would be offered at the conclusion of the CJ.

LMCs of women who indicated an interest in participating in the CJ obtained each woman’s verbal consent to give their phone contact details to the research nurse (J.N.). Fourteen women were phoned to confirm their eligibility and interest in the study. One woman with type 1 diabetes was excluded. The study information sheet, a consent form and a schedule of events for the CJ were sent to the thirteen eligible women 1 month before the CJ. One week prior to the CJ, the women were sent a copy of the draft ‘Health food and lifestyle choices in pregnancy and for families’ booklet. They were instructed to review the booklet and not discuss its content with anyone. Eight women participated in the CJ. Reasons for non-attendance were early labour (n 1), a family emergency (n 1), rental housing inspection and no transport (n 1), and no reason given (n 2).