The Pregnancy Physiology Pattern Prediction Study (4P)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Pregnancy Physiology Pattern Prediction Study (4P)- an observational cohort study.
IRAS ID
154217
Contact name
Peter Watkinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Research summary
The two most recent Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the UK have highlighted an urgent need to develop a national Modified Obstetric Early Warning System (known as MEOWS) to aid the more timely recognition, treatment and referral of women who are developing life-threatening complications of pregnancy (CEMACE, Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries -Improving the health of mothers, babies and children, “Saving Mothers’ Lives Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006–2008” March 2011
The Eighth Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths Volume 118, Supplement 1, March 2011 BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wiley- Blackwell).These publications acknowledge that the problem is complicated by the normal changes in maternal physiology that occur both during pregnancy and immediately after delivery. Very limited information exists from which to develop an evidence-based early warning system that is adapted to alert appropriately for the stage of pregnancy or post-partum period.
The research team will collect vital signs data from recruited patients on a 4-6 week basis from recruitment (at approximately 14 weeks gestation) to two week post-delivery. This will be a combination of data recorded at regular ante-natal visits, any in-hospital stay during pregnancy and immediately after birth, and data recorded by home monitors in the two weeks immediately after birth. Resting observations for the standard physiological variables used in the current MEOWS charts will be recorded from each mother. As a result, a large database of maternal and post-partum physiology will be assembled, from which an evidence-based, national early warning score will be developed for all phases of pregnancy and the immediate post-partum period. A multi-parameter, pregnancy-stage specific alerting system will be created for use in monitored areas and hospital environments.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1312
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion