Information For Participants
Information about the research study for women who might be interested in participating
What is the purpose of this research?
This research project will study the effect that inflammation occurring during pregnancy has on the development of certain diseases in the child later in life. Inflammation is how the body reacts to irritation, injury, or infection. When inflammation occurs on the skin, for example, we recognize it as pain, redness, and swelling. Similar reactions can occur in other part of the body. We will study how inflammation in the mother or the womb during pregnancy might affect the health of the baby later in life.
Why is this research important?
The results of this study are expected to provide new information that might help to improve health by improving treatment and prevention of disease.
Who is doing this research?
This study is being conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan.
Who will be in this study?
- A BEFORE PREGNANCY GROUP - women who intend to become pregnant within 12 months and who do become pregnant. These women will be evaluated prior to becoming pregnant, within four weeks of becoming pregnant, and in trimesters two and three. The child born as a result of this pregnancy will be evaluated at ages 6, 12 and 18 months.
- AN EARLY PREGNANCY GROUP - women enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy and who will be evaluated in each trimester. The child born as a result of this pregnancy will be evaluated at ages 6, 12 and 18 months.
- A LATE PREGNANCY GROUP - women identified later in their pregnancies as having a high risk pregnancy (as examples, labour that begins too soon, high blood pressure, diabetes, other inflammatory diseases). The women will be evaluated at the time they start the study.
What will the people participating in this study be asked to do?
Women participating in the study will complete questionnaires, study staff will collect information and women will be asked to provide a blood, hair, and saliva sample and have periodic ultrasounds done. At the time of birth, samples of cord blood, meconium (the baby's first bowel movement), and placenta will be collected by study staff. Children will be assessed at 6 month intervals for 18 months to assess their health.
