Healthy Baby Brains Study
Healthy Baby Brains
Study Description
During pregnancy, the developing infant is exposed to nearly everything the mother is exposed to. How these exposures impact the the child’s health after birth is still poorly understood. The Healthy Baby Brains Study is a new research study at the University of Alberta. Our goal is to identify any links between maternal exposures including cannabis, home environment, sleep quality, and air pollution during and after pregnancy, and child health. We are looking for women that are pregnant to join our study and participate until their children are 18 months old. We need to recruit women who use cannabis and those that do not. You will be asked to fill out questionnaires at several times during and after pregnancy, and we will test home air quality. We will provide a ring for you to wear that measures sleep quality. You will also be asked to donate urine from yourself and your child, and if possible, breastmilk samples. Your child will receive a developmental assessment by our team at 18 months.
The results of this study will provide doctors, families and researchers with important information about pregnancy. It will help doctors provide information for families, help families make important decisions during pregnancy, and will help in the design of future research studies.
Can I participate?
Am I eligible to participate in this study?
Are you between 16 - 28 weeks pregnant? YES
Have you used cannabis in any amount or frequency, at any point in your pregnancy or pre-pregnancy? YES
OR are you currently using cannabis? YES
OR you have never used cannabis? YES
Are you pregnant in 2022, 2023 or 2024? YES
What will I be doing in this study?
Online questionnaires
Provide urine samples from you and your baby
Provide breastmilk samples if applicable
Wear a device to measure sleep quality & activity
Measure air quality in the home
Follow-up until your child is 18 months of age
Study Status: Ongoing
Study funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Contact:
Research Coordinator: Lesley Brennan, PhD
Ph: (587)-334-7970
E-mail: babybrains@albertahealthservices.ca
** UPDATE July 2022 ** Our team has been awarded additional funding from CIHR to extend this study so that we may follow children to 3 years of age. This will add a tremendous amout of information to the Canadian literature and help many families make important decisions.