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.

INVESTIGATING PREDICATORS OF PMADS, TRAUMA & SCREENING IN THE PERINATAL PERIOD (US STUDY)

Study led by: Elise Wilder

Study aim: My research, in collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Bokoch at Alliant International University, investigates predictors of PMADS, trauma and screening implementation in the perinatal period.

Participant requirements: We are looking for U.S. based, female participants who are 18+, fluent in English, and have had a baby in the last year.

To find out more or request to take part: Please email ewilder@alliant.edu for more information. Please find the survey here.

Recruitment closes: July 2024.

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES

Study led by: Dr Joanna Hudson

Study aim: We are a research study from King’s college London trying to understand what psychological, social and demographic factors influence infant feeding practices and how we can better support birthing people, babies and families before and after birth.

Participant requirements: We are looking for women and birthing people 34+ weeks pregnant, expecting their first baby. The study will involve answering two 15 minute questionnaires before and after birth. The participants will have a chance of winning 1 of 4 £15 Amazon vouchers.

To find out more or request to take part: Please email ifeed@kcl.ac.uk for more information.

Recruitment closes: Once sample size is reached (183).

ONLINE SUPPORT FOR PARTNERS AFTER WITNESSING TRAUMATIC BIRTH

Study led by: Leone Cunningham

Study aim: A dissertation research project interviewing fathers and partners who witnessed a traumatic birth and went on to use internet forums or social media for support. This study will look at how partners use the online space to navigate healing or support.

Participant requirements: Fathers and partners who witnessed a traumatic birth 3 years or more ago. Participants need to be over 18 and able to participate in English. Interviews will be held over Zoom or by telephoneand will be around an hour in length where experiences of online access to support is discussed.

To find out more or request to take part: Please email Lcunni03@student.bbk.ac.uk or call on 07950 615665.

Recruitment closes: Ongoing.

LOOKING AT THE COST OF 3RD & 4TH DEGREE TEARS

Study led by: Jen Hall

Study aim: We are looking to gather data on the cost of a 3rd/4th degree tear - to you and your family, and the NHS. Questions cover medical appointments, surgical and non-surgical treatments, therapies, products to manage your condition, relationships, employment and legal aspects.

Participant requirements: All answers are anonymous and designed so that we cannot identify the responder.
Survey takes around 15 mins to complete.

To find out more or request to take part: Complete survey here.

Recruitment closes: April 2024.

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION AND ACCESSING COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE UK

Study led by: Tia Richards

Study aim: To identify the main factors contributing to Black women’s postnatal depression and how they experience accessing counselling services in the UK.

Participant requirements: I am looking for Black women in the United Kingdom who have experienced postnatal depression (PND) in the last three years and possibly accessed counselling in the last three years.
The study will require approximately one hour of your time to take part in a semi-structured interview, which can be conducted online via Microsoft Teams or face-to-face on Staffordshire University campuses (Stoke-on-Trent or Stafford).

To take part in the study, you must meet the following criteria:

• Experienced postnatal depression in the last three years

• No trauma present

• Ethnicity: Black British, Caribbean, African or Black other living in the United Kingdom

• Live birth (vaginal or caesarean birth)

To find out more or request to take part: Please email r013241e@student.staffs.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: 31st March 2024.

DOES A FEAR OF CHILDBIRTH DURING PREGNANCY AFFECT POST BIRTH BONDING?

Study led by: Alexandra El Badaoui

Study aim: Pregnancy often comes with worry about childbirth which may bring up distressing mental images of the future birth. Another imagery-based process in pregnancy involves building a bond with the unborn baby through imagining them as a person and picturing interactions with them. This study aims to understand how fear of childbirth, negative mental images, and maternal-fetal bonding are related. By studying this, researchers hope to find ways to ease childbirth fears and promote a stronger connection between birthing people and their babies, which can lead to better health for both.

Participant requirements: We are looking for participants over the age of 18, 20+ weeks pregnant, currently living in the UK, not with a high risk pregnancy (as diagnosed by a medical professional), and no diagnosed serious mental disorder (psychosis, bipolar disorder). They will be asked to read through an information sheet, sign a consent form, and then fill out a series of questionnaires (all online through scanning a QR code) that include demographic questions, and questions about their pregnancy, upcoming birth, and mental imagery.

To find out more or request to take part: Participants can email alexandra.badaoui@gtc.ox.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: June 30th 2024.

IMPROVING CARE FOR CUTS AND TEARS FROM CHILDBIRTH

Study led by: Amy Delicate

Study aim: More than 80% of women and birthing people experience cuts and/or tears during vaginal childbirth in the UK each year which can result in pain and distress. There currently is no standardised care process (tool) to help doctors, midwives and nurses to manage cuts and tears after childbirth.

The information that we collect as part of this study, will be used to inform the development of a tool and guidance, and will hopefully improve future care for women and birthing people.

Participant requirements: We are looking for woman and birthing people, over the age of 18, living in the UK who have experienced cuts and/or tears during childbirth within the last 12 months.

There are two options for taking part: You can choose to take part in either a one-to-one discussion (interview) or in a group discussion with other women affected by tears and cuts during childbirth (discussion group). This can be at a time and location of your choice (e.g., online, in your home, in a community centre where you attend mother and baby groups, public location, University of Birmingham or Warwick).

People who take part in an interview will be offered a £25 shopping voucher and those who take part in a discussion group will be offered a £40 shopping voucher each as a thank you for your time. The discussion groups take longer and so this is why those participants receive more.

To find out more or request to take part: Email chapterqualstudy@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call Laura on 0121 414 3024. Follow on X @Chapter_Study. Visit the Chapter study website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/applied-health/research/chapter-study.aspx

Recruitment closes: June 2024.

ACCESSING COUNSELLING POST-BIRTH: WHEN FALLING SHORT OF EXISTING NHS THRESHOLDS

Study led by: Ciara Bird

Study aim: My study aims to explore the experiences of women and birthing people who have sought and received counselling after difficult/traumatic births (but who did not qualify for a PTSD diagnoses or meet the threshold for access to NHS perinatal mental health services).

It offers those who fall short of existing thresholds the chance to tell their stories. The hope is to aid understanding of how best to support a greater number of women and birthing people during this potentially vulnerable time.

Participant requirements: Women and birthing people, who have experienced a difficult or traumatic birth within the past 5 years. Who did not receive a diagnosis of PTSD/did not meet the threshold for perinatal mental health services, who have nevertheless accessed counselling for their experience and would like a chance to tell their story.

To find out more or request to take part: Please email ciara.bird@metanoia.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: 1st April 2024.

DOES FEMINIST IDENTITY AND INTERNALIZED MISOGYNY PREDICT POSTPARTUM MOOD DISORDERS

Study led by: Elise Wilder

Study aim: My research investigates the following: Do feminist identity and internalized misogyny predict postpartum mood disorders.

Participant requirements: Recruiting U.S. based biological women, 18+, who have experienced a live birth within the past year.

To find out more or request to take part: Please find the survey linked here.

Recruitment closes: Early 2024.

DOES ETHNICITY AFFECT BIRTH EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE OF CARE?

Study led by: Nihad Mahama

Study aim: Our research aims to see if ethnicity affects birth experience and experiences of care. The study also aims to investigate how these birth experiences affect feelings post-natally. Finally, we want to understand what factors might be important to women and birthing people during (and after) their maternity care.

Participant requirements:

• Aged 18+ who are 6-12 weeks after birth and are living at home with their baby.

• Women and birthing people who have had a singleton birth where the baby has not required more than 72hrs special care.

• Sufficiently fluent in English to read information, write and consent materials.

• Residents in the UK and gave birth in the UK.

  For this research, unfortunately we cannot include those who have not experienced labour because of having an elective section or who lost their baby through still birth or if a baby has needed more than 72 hours of special care.

To find out more or request to take part: Participants can get in touch via email at: n.mahama@liverpool.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: April 2024.

UNDERSTANDING HOW STRESS IN PREGNANCY AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF THE BABY

Study led by: Emilie Cote

Study aim: We are trying to understand how stress in pregnancy affects the health of the baby. To do this, we measure stress hormones in hair samples. We'd like to understand how acceptable giving a hair sample is to pregnant women so that we can improve the process or come up with an alternative sample type.

Participant requirements: Participants will fill out an online questionnaire with questions about their hair and how they would feel about giving a hair sample either for research or for routine antenatal care.

To find out more or request to take part: Participants can fill out the survey here and get in touch with me directly at emilie.1.cote@kcl.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: Early 2024.

IMPROVING SUPPORT FOR BLACK BRITISH CARIBBEAN WOMEN AFTER BABY LOSS

Study led by: Vanessa Gardner

Study aim: I am currently seeking to speak with Black British Caribbean women who have experienced stillbirth, as part of my Clinical Psychology doctorate at Coventry University.
In light of the poorer health outcomes and quality of care provided to black mothers and birthing people during pregnancy, it is hoped that this research will improve support resources in the future.

Participant requirements: The study will consist of interviews with Black British Caribbean women aged 18 to 45 years (who have experienced a stillbirth). Interviews will last approximately 60-90. minutes, with mothers who meet the criteria to be involved.

To find out more or request to take part: Participants can express their interest by emailing gardnerv2@coventry.ac.uk.

Recruitment closes: Early 2024.

UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCE OF BABY LOSS FOR BLACK BRITISH CARIBBEAN MEN

Study led by: Cherise Williams

Study aim: This study seeks to understand how those who identify as Black British Caribbean men have experienced an unexpected baby loss. The aim of this study arose from the recent increase in studies demonstrating that Black women and Black babies are most likely to die during pregnancy (including stillbirth) and within the neonatal period (up to 28 days following birth).

Despite this increase in research, there remains a lack of attention focused on Black men’s experience of this loss. Additionally, there is a lack of black families' access to mental health/ perinatal mental health services despite mostly being affected.

This study aims to provide men with a voice to share their experiences. Additionally, there is the hope that the study can provide insight to NHS services that aim to provide more effective treatments to this group and improve their access to services.

Participant requirements:

• Age 18+

• Men who identify as Black British Caribbean (Caribbean countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands).

• Participants must be the biological parent of the baby who passed away

• Baby loss is defined in this study as the second trimester (14 weeks onwards) through the neonatal period (up to 28 days following birth). Advised terminations due to your baby's ill health are also included. Miscarriages can occur up until 24 weeks of pregnancy, and therefore, miscarriages that occur 14 - 24 weeks will be included.

• Men who reside in the UK presently and at the time of the birth and death of their baby.

• There is no time limit on when the loss occurred.

• The baby’s ethnic identity: the biological mother doesn't need to identify as Black British Caribbean. This means the baby could be identified as mixed ethnicity.
  
  Exclusion criteria: Who cannot take part?
  
  • Not currently residing in the UK
  • Residing in a secure setting at present (i.e., prison; mental health hospital)
  • Presence of a psychotic disorder presently or at the time the loss occurred
  • Men who do not identify as Black British Caribbean
  • Baby loss within 1st trimester (12 weeks gestation; miscarriage)
  • Partner/ Baby’s birth mother also passed away during the period of pregnancy or up until the neonatal period.
  

To find out more or request to take part: Link to the information sheet and consent form can be found here. On completing the consent form, you will be asked to leave contact information, and will be contacted to arrange a pre-interview screening and offer a space for them to ask questions.

Alternatively, you can email csw161@student.bham.ac.uk

Recruitment closes: Early 2024.