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The Effects Of Dietary And Lifestyle Interventions Among Pregnant Women Who Are Overweight Or Obese On Longer-term Maternal And Early Childhood Outcomes: An Individual Participant Data (IPD) Meta-analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,317.00
Summary
Obesity affects 50% of pregnant women, and is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. In the longer-term, maternal obesity predicts high infant birth weight and future child obesity. We will combine and analyse randomised controlled trial data available world-wide through an individual participant data meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of antenatal dietary intervention among women who are overweight or obese on longer-term maternal and child health.
STan Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring (cardiotocographic Plus Electrocardiographic) Compared With Cardiotocographic (CTG) Monitoring Alone: An Australian Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,369.00
Summary
Women in high risk labour have their babies monitored by electronic fetal monitoring. This detects unborn babies not coping during labour, but may lead to unnecessary caesarean sections by incorrectly indicating that the baby is at risk. We will compare CTG to STan monitoring, which may give fewer false readings. We will show if STan reduces emergency caesarean section, and will investigate the impact on the baby, assess psychological aspects such as mental health and wellbeing, and costs.
Testing A Transgenerational Cycles Of Violence Model In Timor-Leste: Impact Of Maternal Anger On Childhood Aggression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$881,002.00
Summary
We will examine ways in which war trauma can cause mental disorder and behavioural disturbances in the next generation. We will examine the problem of extreme anger amongst mothers caused by war trauma, domestic violence and other stresses. Mothers with anger may have difficulties parenting their children, resulting in behavioural disturbances in the next generation. In the longer term, these children may show aggressive behaviour that leads to ongoing family and social instability.
Causal Pathways From Maternal Obesity To Pregnancy, Perinatal & Childhood Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,703.00
Summary
Overweight and obesity affects more than 50% of women entering pregnancy. There are well-documented risks of poor health outcomes associated with obesity during pregnancy. We will evaluate whether an antenatal dietary and lifestyle intervention among pregnant women who are overweight or obese, acts via metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory pathways, in the contribution of maternal obesity to adverse pregnancy, perinatal and early childhood health outcomes.
Metformin And Dietary Advice To Improve Insulin Sensitivity And Promote Gestational Restriction Of Weight In Pregnant Women Who Are Obese: The GRoW Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,710,437.00
Summary
Obesity is a significant health issue during pregnancy and childbirth associated with well documented risks. Women who are obese commence pregnancy in a state of increased insulin resistance, the altered metabolic and inflammatory environment providing an excess of nutrients, and a stimulus to fetal growth. The aims of the GRoW randomised trial are to evaluate the effects of metformin and dietary advice to improve insulin sensitivity in obese pregnant women on health outcomes.
BIRTHPLACE IN AUSTRALIA: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$834,782.00
Summary
There is considerable debate about the safety of maternity services in Australia. This has been increased by the National Maternity Services Review and the National Maternity Plan with particular concerns about homebirth and birth centres. This study aims to examine the safety of place of birth for healthy women. This national study will include women across the country. It is the first time such a study has been undertaken in Australia and will provide much needed evidence as to the safety of p ....There is considerable debate about the safety of maternity services in Australia. This has been increased by the National Maternity Services Review and the National Maternity Plan with particular concerns about homebirth and birth centres. This study aims to examine the safety of place of birth for healthy women. This national study will include women across the country. It is the first time such a study has been undertaken in Australia and will provide much needed evidence as to the safety of place of birth.Read moreRead less
Preventing Postnatal Depression In New Mothers Using Telephone Peer Support: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,069.00
Summary
Depression in recent mothers are very common; more than 53,000 new mothers in Australia are affected by this each year. The condition can lead to serious adverse consequences for a mother’s health and the health of her infant and family. Effective strategies to prevent and reduce maternal depression are therefore needed. We will test whether support by telephone from other mothers (peer volunteers) helps in women at increased risk at 4 weeks postpartum.
DOES CONTINUITY OF MIDWIFERY CARE INCREASE VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN (VBAC): A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,960.00
Summary
Pregnancy and birth directly affect almost 300,000 families in Australia each year. A key concern is that the caesarean section rate in Australia is higher than similar countries with a lack of support for women to have a vaginal birth after caesarean section. We plan to undertake a trial to determine whether midwifery continuity of care increases the rate of vaginal birth in women who have had a previous caesarean section. This trial could significantly alter the way maternity care is provided.
Nanomedicine Targeted Delivery Of Therapeutics To The Placenta To Treat Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,148.00
Summary
Preeclampsia, one of the most serious complications of pregnancy, affects around 3-8% of all pregnancies. Sadly, there is no treatment. We have developed a new technique to deliver treatments only to the placenta, sparing the mother and baby from side effects. We will test whether this technique can treat the source of preeclampsia, the placenta, in human and mouse models in our laboratory. This work has potential to offer possibilities of new treatments to other pregnancy complications.
This project will substantially improve our understanding of the potential causes of vascular complications of pregnancy including preeclampsia, and provide a solid foundation to develop new clinical interventions for women who develop this disease during their pregnancy. It will also investigate if a peptide hormone, relaxin, could be an effective treatment to manage the health of women diagnosed with preeclampsia during their pregnancy and prevent delivery of severely premature infants.