• Study led by: Melissa Cox

• Study aim: The Preparing for Patients (PfP) Programme is seeking pregnant volunteers who are due give birth between August 2026 and May 2027, to talk about their experiences of pregnancy and early parenthood with Cambridge medical students.
  
  All conversations are treated as completely confidential and participants will not be named in any coursework. These conversations help students to develop a broader, more personal understanding of how pregnancy and having a child can affect individuals and their families and allow them to connect their academic studies with real-world experiences.

• Participant requirements: We are looking for approximately 150 pregnant people in the UK due between August 2026 and May 2027.  The course begins in October 2026 and participants will be assigned to a group of up to four students.
  
  The students will arrange three – four meetings either in person or online, depending on the participant’s preference and circumstances. In-person meetings may take place at an agreed external location or in the participant’s home.

• To find out more or request to take part: Participants can fill out an interest form here: https://forms.office.com/e/d3jj44dT0s. Or can email us directly at pregnancy@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: Once 150 volunteers have been recruited.

• Study led by: Annie Beauchamp

• Study aim: This project aims to investigate what factors might affect whether antenatal patients tell healthcare professionals whether they have consumed alcohol in their pregnancy. It’s important to understand why pregnant people may or may not tell healthcare professionals about their alcohol use in pregnancy, as openness between pregnant people and healthcare professionals leads to improved antenatal care. We are particularly interested in the role of perceived or experienced stigma on access to antenatal care.
  
  We are looking for volunteers, aged 18 and over, to take part in an online survey (roughly 15-20 minutes), with the opportunity to participate in a paid semi-structured interview (up to one hour) on completion of the survey.
  
  This research is being completed as part of a Doctorate in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University.

• Participant requirements: There are two participant groups, and we are particularly interested in hearing from NHS healthcare professionals, as per the below details.
  
  All participants must be over the age of 18, fluent in English, and living in the UK.
  
  For the first group, you must have been pregnant and/or given birth within the last three years, and accessed NHS antenatal services during your most recent pregnancy.
  
  For the second group, you must be a current NHS healthcare professional who works directly with antenatal patients, and have done so within the last 12 months.
  
  All participants will be asked to complete a short, anonymous online survey (roughly 15-20 minutes) which will explore different aspects of their experiences and/or attitudes towards alcohol consumption in pregnancy. There is no compensation for completing the survey.
  
  Following this, participants will be asked if they wish to participate in an online semi-structured interview to discuss their experiences in more detail. Interviews are anonymised (so you cannot be identified in any outputs) and last up to one hour, and you will be paid £25 in shopping vouchers in recognition of your time.

To find out more or request to take part: Pregnancy/birth participants can access the survey here: https://ljmu.questionpro.eu/LJMUDaphneStudyPP

NHS staff participants can access the survey here: https://ljmu.questionpro.eu/LJMUDaphneStudyHCPs

All participants may contact the researcher directly via a.beauchamp@2025.ljmu.ac.uk if they have questions, concerns, or simply wish to take part in the interview without completing the survey.

Recruitment closes: 31st March 2027.

• Study led by: Amie Drew

• Study aim: I am looking to speak with global majority/ethnic minority fathers for my study exploring global majority fathers' experiences of emotional help-seeking during the perinatal period (from pregnancy to one year postpartum).

  The study is exploring global majority fathers' experiences of fatherhood, specifically if they felt they could be open about their emotional experiences as a new father and whether they faced any barriers to seeking emotional support. The study aims to improve access to mental health support for global majority fathers/fathers from diverse backgrounds in the UK.

• Participant requirements: Participants must be fathers aged 18+ living in the UK. Biological, adoptive or foster fathers are all eligible. Fathers must identify from an ethnic minority/global majority or mixed ethnic group. Global majority refers to people who are of African, Asian, Latin American, Caribbean or Indigenous descent, dual heritage, mixed-heritage, or anyone racialised as an ethnic minority. 

  The study will involve an online interview over Microsoft Teams about participants experiences of fatherhood. Interested fathers do not need to have accessed any support to take part. Any experiences are welcome. No compensation will be provided for taking part.

To find out more or request to take part: By emailing d028254o@student.staffs.ac.uk. The recruitment poster can be found here.

Recruitment closes: March 2027.

• 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.

• Study led by: Saira Koh

• Study aim: My doctoral research explores how healthcare professionals understand and make sense of racialised mistreatment during labour and childbirth within UK maternity institutes.
  
  While there is growing recognition of racial inequalities in maternity outcomes and birth experiences, little is known within the UK of how maternity staff understand and account for these inequities. Exploring staff perspectives is therefore important to better understand how these issues are understood within maternity care, in order to inform meaningful change.
  
  The research seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing maternity care and inform efforts towards safer, more respectful and equitable experiences for all women and birthing people.

• Participant requirements:  I am looking for healthcare professionals aged 18 and over, who work or have worked within UK birth settings (e.g. hospitals, birth centres), working directly with service-users during labour and childbirth. Professionals can include midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists and maternity support workers. Students/trainees are welcome to participate. The required minimum amount of experience of working within birth settings is 6 months.
  
  I am interested in hearing from professionals with a range of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives, including differing views and understandings of racialised mistreatment in maternity care.
  
  Participation involves taking part in a single confidential, semi-structured interview via Microsoft Teams, lasting approximately 50 minutes.
  
  Participation is entirely voluntary, and information shared will be handled in accordance with the University of Hertfordshire Ethics procedures (Protocol number: 2007 ST HSET 2026).
  
  Participants will receive a £15 Love2Shop voucher as a thank-you for their time.

To find out more or request to take part: Please find more information and the form to sign up here: https://herts.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wtCqai13Sh6JDg

Alternatively, they can contact me on: S.koh2@herts.ac.uk

Recruitment closes: March 2027.