The Alberta BLOOM Preterm Birth Study was launched in Fall 2019. This study aims to learn how the maternal microbiome contributes to early preterm birth and the establishment of the infant’s microbiome.
A mother’s microbiome promotes health fetal and infant development. However, certain maternal microbes can cause harm. Scientific studies have shown that 20-60% of spontaneous PTBs are due to infection of the pregnancy tissues and amniotic fluid. A limited number of bacteria in the mother’s vaginal and oral microbiotas have been identified as those most likely to cause these infections.
The Alberta BLOOM Preterm Birth Study was launched in Fall 2019. This study aims to learn how the maternal microbiome contributes to early preterm birth and the establishment of the infant’s microbiome.
A mother’s microbiome promotes health fetal and infant development. However, certain maternal microbes can cause harm. Scientific studies have shown that 20-60% of spontaneous PTBs are due to infection of the pregnancy tissues and amniotic fluid. A limited number of bacteria in the mother’s vaginal and oral microbiotas have been identified as those most likely to cause these infections.
Participants residing in the greater Calgary area are followed at local hospitals and at home for the duration of their pregnancy and the infant’s first 2 months of life. Depending on the length of time from enrollment to birth, participants will be engaged with the study for 2-6 months.
BLOOM-PTB recruits mothers who present with spontaneous preterm labour or rupture of membranes at Foothills Medical Centre before 32 weeks gestation. Women experiencing healthy pregnancies and those with complications necessitating scheduled preterm deliveries are also recruited for BLOOM-PTB through outpatient clinics associated with the Foothills Medical Centre.
Antimicrobial therapies, while important for treating infections in mothers and their newborns, have not reduced PTB rates. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics has been shown to disrupt the transfer of health microbes from the mother to her infant during and after birth. By improving our understanding of haw maternal microbes contribute to fetal and infant health, BLOOM-PTB hopes to identify new strategies for preventing infection-related PTB, while safeguarding the health process of microbial transfer from a mother to her infant.
If you have any questions about the study, please contact us here.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING PART OF THIS STUDY!
