Monitoring Nullliparous Outcomes: The Search for Adverse Pregnancy Indicators in New Mothers-to-be

Determining the wide-ranging parameters of adverse pregnancy indicators in nulliparous mothers has never been attempted before. Singular studies, each concerning demographics, environmental factors, and genetics have been conducted as recently as 2009 in smaller scale, and not focusing on first-time pregnancies. Identifying the underlying indicators for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (APO’s) would dramatically reduce the instances of Preeclampsia, Pre-term Birth, and Fetal Growth Restriction, which account for over half a million births in the U.S. each year. Prevention of these APO’s will directly impact the health and substantial amount of resources that are used by these infants as they become adults with increased health risks associated with their APO’s. First-time moms are enrolled in the study and data is collected by sampling blood serum and plasma, urine, cervico-vaginal fluid, ultrasound, and by personal interview during three clinical visits during the course of the pregnancy. Patients also have the option of submitting for study an amniocentesis and sleep monitor reading. At delivery, tissue samples from the umbilical cord, fetal-side placental membrane, placenta, and a cord blood sample are taken. The tissue samples collected will all be analyzed for hormone levels, histology, metabolites, proteins, and microscopy. Our study has three goals: 1. provide us with maternal characteristics, environmental factors, and responses to pregnancy that predict APO’s, 2. Identify specific aspects of the placenta in these instances, and 3. Characterize fetal genetic, growth, and developmental parameters associated with APO’s. The study will then provide the foundation for future medical research in high-risk obstetrics.