The INFORMED study, which forms part of the MAGENTA Project, invites expectant mums aged 18-45 living in Swansea to take part in a new study.
While MAGENTA focuses on the effects of heat exposure on pregnancy, INFORMED engages with pregnant women during the cooler months of the year to explore whether differences in housing and location influence how pregnant women respond to environmental changes.
This study will therefore lay the groundwork for comparison with findings from the warmer months.
Who is organising this study and why?
Conducted by researchers at Swansea University Medical School, this study will address key gaps in our understanding of how the environment affects pregnancy. To date, the impact of heat during pregnancy has been neglected in the UK, making this research critical to improving healthcare for pregnant women in a changing climate.
Who can take part?
- Women who are pregnant aged 18-45 before 31 weeks of pregnancy.
- Those living in Swansea.
- Non-smokers and non-vapers.
Participation will involve
- Those taking part in INFORMED will receive three additional visits from an NHS midwife to collect biological samples on three separate occasions. Mums-to-be will have the choice of giving a minimum of 3 sample types, choosing from saliva, blood, urine, sweat, nasal or hair.
- Participants will receive a wearable personal health monitor (similar to a Fitbit) to measure their heart rate and blood flow.
- Having an air quality monitor (similar in size to a small box of tissues) in their home for two weeks.
Appointments will occur in participants homes, or at Swansea University Singleton campus at a time convenient for them. As a thank you for participating in this study, those taking part will receive a £50 shopping voucher, and an additional £5 voucher if they travel to Swansea University to cover their travel costs.
Professor Cathy Thornton, Co-Investigator for MAGENTA, said: “The sampling part of this study is crucial to uncovering how environmental factors impact biological processes during pregnancy. By collecting samples from participants, we can build a clearer understanding of how housing and location alone and alongside elevated heat conditions affect mothers and their babies.”
Professor Rich Fry, Principal Investigator for MAGENTA, added: “This study is a vital step toward understanding how environmental factors impact maternal health. The INFORMED study focuses on participants during the cooler months, enabling us to explore how pregnancy outcomes differ in the absence of elevated heat. The impact of heat during pregnancy has been neglected in the UK to date, leaving significant gaps in knowledge that we are now looking to address. By taking part, women are helping us uncover valuable insights that could inform improved healthcare for both mothers and babies.”
How to join the study
For more information, and to check your eligibility, please click here to enrol.