• Manchester research centre
• Manchester centre - pre-eclampsia research
• Manchester centre - IUGR research
• Premature labour

Preterm labour research at the Manchester research centre

There are two common occurrences which result in inappropriate function of the uterus and which are potentially fatal to the baby. These are pre-term delivery, which affects more than 1 in 20 pregnancies, and dysfunctional labour, which affects 1 in 5 labours (including inefficient contraction). For more information about premature labour including possible known causes, please click here.

Overall the research team’s work is aiming to find out what controls womb contraction, hopefully identifying therapeutic targets for managing contraction, thus allowing treatment for pre-term and dysfunctional labour.  Much of this work is being done in conjunction with Tommy’s research team in London.

One theory of why the womb does not always contract efficiently is related to oxygen levels in the blood supplying the womb.  As the blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the placenta and womb, and carries waste products away from the baby and womb, any interruption in blood flow will result in hypoxic conditions – meaning there is insufficient oxygen followed by re-oxygenation when normal blood flow resumes.  Previous research has shown that too little oxygen in the muscle of the womb has major effects on its ability to contract.  Our researchers aim to identify why interruptions in the blood flow occur.  With greater understanding of why this happens, there is the opportunity to identify possible targets for therapeutic interventions.

Stress in pregnancy
We know that there are many ways in which stress affects people – and pregnant women are no different. Previous research has suggested that stress in pregnancy is associated with pregnancy complications, although there remains much debate about how this occurs. The Manchester research team is studying the link between maternal stress and subsequent pregnancy complications using the Danish National Register, a database holding details of almost two million pregnancies. Their current findings suggest that stress - as defined by the death of a first-degree relative - leads to an increased risk of premature birth (before 37 weeks) and low birth weights (of less than 2.5 kg). It is thought that these effects result from stress hormones crossing the placenta and altering the function of blood vessels in the placenta. This affects the uptake of nutrients by the placenta and, in turn, affects the level of nutrition getting to the baby.