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.

EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANCY AND EARLY PARENTHOOD

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.

EXPLORING FATHERS SUPPORT NEEDS DURING AND FOLLOWING A TRAUMATIC BIRTH.

Study led by: Jessica Leung

Study aim: This study is exploring fathers' support needs during and following a traumatic birth. A traumatic birth experience can have a significant impact on the mental health of both parents; however, specialist support for fathers is currently limited. This study aims to better understand what support is currently available for fathers, what challenges there might be to accessing this support, and what support is still needed. By sharing your views and experiences, you can contribute to the development of recommendations for future services and provisions, and help more parents get the support they need.
This research is being conducted as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Participant requirements: Looking for fathers, mothers and midwives/health visitors to take part in a short, anonymous survey (approximately 10-15 minutes). As a thank you, you can enter a prize draw to win one of six £20 gift cards (2 per participant group).

A father is anyone who identifies as a male parental figure to their child (biological or non-biological). For father/mother participants, your child must be between 1 month and 5 years old, and born in the UK. The father must have witnessed the birth and experienced any of the following symptoms as a result: unwanted memories, avoiding reminders of the experience, changes in mood or thinking, sleep difficulties, or feeling constantly irritable or on edge.

Midwives and health visitors must be practising (or have practised) in the UK, and have experience supporting fathers during or following a traumatic birth within the last 5 years.

To find out more or request to take part: For full study details (including eligibility criteria), or to take part, please visit the link here. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch at jl4553@bath.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: October 2026.

EXPLORING GLOBAL MAJORITY FATHERS EXPERIENCE OF SUPPORT DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD.

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.

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.

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.