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Study of Pregnancy & Neonatal Health logo

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen at the clinic visits?

At the first visit, we will take body measurements and samples of your blood, urine, saliva, and semen (if you’re a man). We will ask you to log into a secure website to answer questions about your history, lifestyle, and thoughts and feelings.

In the third trimester, we will ask women to come in for a brief exam and blood sample, and an ultrasound to take pictures and measurements of the fetus and placenta. This ultrasound will use a wand on the outside of the belly. We will also ask women a few more questions about their lifestyle and thoughts and feelings at this stage of the pregnancy. Some men will be asked to provide a second semen sample around this time.

When the woman comes in to deliver the baby, we may collect a sample of her blood, and at most hospitals we will collect blood from the umbilical cord after the baby's birth, and small sections of the placenta after it is delivered.

What will you do in the infant exam?

When your baby is a day or two old, we will come to your hospital room. We will take some measurements of your baby and do some basic tests of your baby's reflexes and responses under different circumstances (to light and sounds).

Baby in a pea pod machine

Next, we will escort you and your baby to a Pea Pod machine if one is available. Your baby will be placed inside the Pea Pod machine where measures of his or her body mass will be made using air displacement. The Pea Pod chamber is warm and your baby can breathe normally in it. You will be able to see your baby through a window in the chamber. From start to finish, the Pea Pod test takes about 7 minutes and your baby will only be in the Pea Pod chamber for about 2 minutes.

Will I be compensated for my time?

Yes! You will receive compensation for participating in the study. See the study consent form for details.

Will it cost me anything to be in the study?

No. It will not cost you anything to be in this study.

How is my privacy protected?

Your data and specimens are identified only by an ID number that contains no personal identifying information. Only study staff will have access to the master list linking your code number to your name, and they sign an agreement to keep your identity a secret. The data collected in this study will be analyzed and reported collectively and will never be reported in a way that could identify you. More detailed information about how your privacy and the confidentiality of your data are protected if you participate in this study are provided on your consent form.