NOW CLOSED: Are you pregnant now, or have given birth in the last 5 years? Complete an academic research study - £250 of Amazon vouchers to be won.

[OliviaMumsnet]

We've been asked for some help with an academic research study by a doctor at Nottingham City Hospital, Dr Kate Walker.

The survey is open to everyone who is either pregnant now or who has given birth in the last 5 years.

Here's what Kate has to say about her research:
"I am doing research to find out how best to look after the pregnancies of women aged over 35. Specifically we are looking at whether doctors should induce labour slightly early for such women to try and prevent stillbirth.

"Some doctors think early induction for women over 35 may prevent stillbirth however there are some risks associated with induction. Experts used to believe that induction generally increased Caesareans. More recent research has suggested that for certain conditions modern methods of induction slightly reduce the need for Caesareans.

"At Nottingham City Hospital we are considering a clinical trial with women aged 35+. This would involve one group being induced early (39 weeks) and one group not. However we need to gauge how recent mothers and mothers to be would feel about participating in a clinical trial like this. So we're asking Mumsnetters to complete our short survey.

We're very aware that some of you may have experienced stillbirth, early induction or given birth at aged 35+ - we don't want to cause any upset with this survey - if you'd like to get in touch with me directly my email address is at the end of the survey.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for any input you can give.

Best wishes
Dr Kate Walker"

As a token of thanks everyone who completes Kate's survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of vouchers for Amazon. We're asking that you just enter your MN Nickname at the end - Kate will pick one winner at random and MNHQ will be in touch directly with you - that way Kate will not have your email address - she wants the survey to be
completely anonymous and all data is confidential
Many thanks
MNHQ

Do I need to be 35+ to do the survey?

Done.

What % of women over 35 have a still birth compared to those under 35?

I gave birth just under 5 years ago, but was 30, so not sure if my experience is relevant? is it for women who were 35 or over when they gave birth?

done

I have completed it and was under 35 when I gave birth - didn't seem to matter

Done it. Not sure she will like the answers!

All done - am under 35 too.

Done. I'm 34, but I'm pregnant, had a child less than five years ago and I was induced.

I'd be interested to hear the stats on stillbirth over 35 as opposed to under, but they probably don't want that influencing people's responses.

What about people like me who have naturally long labours???

I suffered near failed induction at T+14 with my first and Term with my 3rd child!

Surely the research should be based upon the medical need? I too would like to know the % of women over 35 who have stll-born children and if there is a significant increase over that age. will fill in the survey. As a 40 year old experiencing my first successful pregnancy (so far) no one has ever mentioned early induction as a possibility nor still birth being increased!

Done.

Is open to under 35s too. Phrasing in the OP is indeed unclear.

I can't see many MNers being up for a trial like this. Is it on NetMums too? I'd love to if/how the answers differ.

Hi, survey is for all who are either pregnant or have had a child in the last 5 years. Will show Kate the thread - she'll be very interested in all views. Thanks Ann

Thought there might be a few more questions. I had my DD at the age of 43 and was told by my MW it wasn't actually considered to be a high-risk pregnancy. Nobody mentioned an increased risk of stillbirth.

Just realised that I will be 35 by the time I give birth (unless baby is very early), so it may be that one of my answers was wrong.

My discussion with specialist at the age of 33 was about induction at Term +14 or Term +21 even though the hospital's rule it Term +10 , if I got pregnant again so would be 39 at youngest I can't see them suddenly insisting on 39 weeks with my history.

Would be interested to see stats which include how many children the mum already had and at what age??

Surely the answer is better monitoring of placenta and baby in the first place.

Just read up a little on some atillbirth stats and there are so many influencing factors such as obesity, weight of baby, maternal country of birth. Certainly would not agree to induction of a healthy pregnancy on age alone.

Yes I'm also curious about this - I'm under 35 but my MIL had her 5th child aged 42. She had a homebirth, so I doubt very much she was classed as high risk.

This seems totally unnecessary to me (unless that stats on stillbirth have massively changed since I last looked) - why not proper expectant management from term (or 39 weeks if that is what their research is suggesting?)

Done. I have been induced and I hated it. There would have to be an actual reason for me to do it again, not some blanket rule.

Done. Always feared being induced and have been lucky to spontaneously labour 3 times.

I did some reserch too and there was some kind of Yale university research in 2007 on women over 40. Suggestion seems to be that better monitoring is what is needed.

here

"The researchers also found that fetal testing at 38 weeks gestation has the greatest impact at reducing stillbirth rates in older women."

done

Done. There would have to be a very good reason for me to agree to an induction in any future pregnancy!!