The purpose of the EMBRACE study is to learn more about the risk and protective factors that impact parents’ emotional health during pregnancy and following childbirth. Specifically, we want to understand how both stressful and positive life experiences can shape how parents and their babies handle stress. Understanding how stress hormones are regulated during pregnancy is important because babies’ stress systems are still developing. We want to learn more about how babies are able to respond and recover from stressful situations, like missing a nap or being away from their parents, and what factors during pregnancy might influence this process.

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Procedures

 

This study involves 3 visits - one during pregnancy and two postpartum.  

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30-35 weeks pregnant

During your pregnancy visit, you will come in to our lab at the Hardesty Center for Clinical Research in Tulsa to learn more about the study, complete a biosample collection, and complete some online surveys. We will also collect information like your blood pressure, height, weight, and grip strength. Then at home, you will also complete some more surveys after your visit. 

 

6 weeks postpartum

At 6 weeks postpartum, you and your baby will come back in for a shorter visit. You will be asked to provide another biosample collection and we will also collect your baby's measurements and a saliva sample. After your visit, you will complete some more surveys at home. 

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16 weeks postpartum​

For your last visit, you and baby will return and we will collect the same information that we did at your second visit. We will also have you complete a play-based interaction with your baby that we will record.

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Compensation

If you complete all parts of the study, you will be paid a total of $300 through a reloadable debit card. When you finish each part of the study, money will be loaded onto your research debit card in the following amounts:

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Enrollment:

$90 for completing the in-person visit & blood draw

$60 for completing the at-home questions

 

6 weeks postpartum:

$55 for completing the in-person visit & blood draw

$20 for completing the at-home questions

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16 weeks postpartum:

$55 for completing the in-person visit & blood draw

$20 for completing the at-home questions