Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS)

The Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS) is a longitudinal cohort study of pregnant women exploring the impact of perinatal depression (depression experienced from conception until birth) on women and their children.

MPEWS has recruited 887 women in Melbourne (through the Mercy Hospital for Women), Perth and regional and rural Western Australia.

The study is a multidisciplinary, national and international collaboration that examines maternal mental health and infant and child outcomes. This involves data collection across domains of biology, psychology and social well-being from the first trimester of pregnancy into middle childhood. There are seven waves of data collection:

  • Wave 1: early pregnancy
  • Wave 2: late pregnancy
  • Wave 3: birth
  • Wave 4: 6 months postpartum
  • Wave 5: 12 months postpartum
  • Wave 6: Children aged 3 – 4 years old
  • Wave 7: Children aged 7 – 10 years old

We are seeking funding for further waves of data collection.

The study protocol has been published (Galbally, et al., 2017 Int. J. Psych. Res. Methods). The study has been funded by the mental health support group Beyondblue, and National Health and Medical Research Council project grants.

If there are any questions about the study, the coordinator Jacinta Holland may be contacted at [email protected]

Last reviewed September 26, 2017.

Fetal Longitudinal Assessment of Growth (FLAG) Study

Better detection of fetal growth restriction at term could prevent many cases of stillbirth by identifying mothers who would benefit from planning the timing of their baby's birth.

Fetal Longitudinal Assessment of Growth (FLAG) Study