Live Research

Looking for participants

Thank you for visiting this page and showing your interest in the vital research taking place around birth trauma, professionals wellness and maternal mental health. Please see below all projects which are currently live and looking for participants. Please read with care.

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING DURING POST-PARTUM

Study led by: Karen Wetherall

Study aim: The Wellbeing in Post-Partum Study (WiPPS) aims to better understand the mental health and wellbeing of women and birthing people in the post-partum period. The study includes a short online confidential survey (15-20 mins) asking questions about mental health, emotions, birth experiences and support.

Participant requirements: Any women or birthing person over the age of 18, who has given birth within the past year.

You can complete a range of questions about how you have been feeling and your birth experience. You are able to withdraw at any time and support options are available throughout.

If you consent, you will be entered into a prize draw for one of 5 x £50 shopping vouchers.

To find out more or request to take part: By emailing karen.wetherall@glasgow.ac.uk, or access online study and information here.

Recruitment closes: June 2026.

EXAMINING CONSENT DURING LABOUR

Study led by: Lily Hutton

Study aim: Consent during labour ensures physical and emotional safety for women and birthing people (WABP) and is legally required prior to healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing treatment. This study aims to explore consent during labour from both a HCP and WABP perspective, examining this perspective through a feminist ethical framework, Ethics of Care (EoC). This will highlight both good and bad practice, providing contributions to improve the consent process for HCP’s and WABP.

This mixed methods qualitative study will utilise observations of interactions between HCPs and WABP during labour, to uncover the conversations which take place that led to, or do not lead to, consent being given.

This aims to use the information gathered to further understand the process of consent in labour but from a new perspective, utilising an EoC framework, which is an ethical perspective that prioritises care and relationships.

Participant requirements: I am looking for currently practicing healthcare professionals, student healthcare professionals (who have worked in a labour setting within the last 12 months) and women and birthing people who have given birth in the last two years.

I would like them to participate in a semi-structured one-to-one interview with me. This can take place in person, in a neutral setting (travel can be reimbursed), online, or in their home. This will be recorded and transcribed verbatim, but all identifiable information will be removed.

To find out more or request to take part: By emailing l.m.hutton@keele.ac.uk or contacting 07858 952 684.

Recruitment closes: October 2026.

UNDERSTANDING HOW ANTENATAL PREPARATION IMPROVES BIRTH EXPERIENCES

Study led by: Victoria Barrett

Study aim: I am a midwife researching how antenatal education classes might better prepare the birthing person for unexpected interventions or complications during the birthing experience and whether visits or tours to the birth environment before the birth event might help to improve overall experiences.

Participant requirements: This is a proposed PhD project and I would like to ask women and birthing people if this is a valuable and meaningful area of research. Please complete this brief questionnaire detailing your own experience of antenatal education and whether you feel it prepared you for the reality of your actual birth.

Questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/e/yVjz1tN7Rz

To find out more or request to take part: By emailing victoria.barrett@nottingham.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: April 2026.

EXPLORING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE INEQUALITIES OF BLACK WOMEN AND BIRTHING PEOPLE

Study led by: Ope Olusoga

Study aim: B-CHANGE (Black women and Black birthing people Challenging Histories and Nurturing Grassroot Exchanges) is a PhD project that is exploring the psychological experiences of Black women and Black birthing people (trans men, inter-sex and non-binary folk who birth) accessing National Health Service (NHS) maternity/reproductive healthcare services in England. The aim of this project is to tackle reproductive healthcare inequities and positively change the maternity experience for Black women and Black birthing people through community engagement, collaboration and action.

Participant requirements: We are inviting Black women and Black birthing people (trans men, inter-sex and non-binary folk who birth) who are 1) currently pregnant, 2) have given birth in the last 24 months or 3) are considering getting pregnant in the next 24 months to take part. Individuals must be over the age of 18 to participate.

Participants will become part of a Black Birthing Collective as co-researchers. The collective will meet up, over an agreed period of time, for a total of 7 gatherings to co-design and carry out research into Black maternal health. No prior research experience is needed. Co-researchers will receive a £20.00 voucher at the end of the project as a token of appreciation for volunteering their time and expertise.

To find out more or request to take part: Participants can contact the lead researcher via email: ope.olusoga@open.ac.uk

Recruitment closes: Ongoing.

UNDERSTANDING BLACK EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD

Study led by: Sarah Gado

Study aim: Interviewing Black people who have experienced a traumatic birth, about their experiences of support with their mental health, during the perinatal period. I hope to understand more about black people's experiences of the healthcare system, in order to discover what is required to make healthcare more supportive of Black people and people of colour.

Participant requirements: Participants will be people who identify as Black, who have experienced a traumatic birth and who feel as though they can discuss their experiences of seeking or receiving support for their mental health within the perinatal period.

Please see the recruitment poster for more information.

To find out more or request to take part: Please email sw20906@essex.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: Ongoing.