Short summary

There is growing evidence that the demands of pregnancy may generate a 'window of prediction' for women's midlife and future health as well as the programming effect on the child. This 'stress test' encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including both psychiatric and somatic health. The detailed characterization of the women in OCC during their pregnancy provides a unique opportunity to enhance the understanding of gestational outcomes and biomarkers for maternal and child health postpartum.

Rationale

Pregnancy serves as an early stress test for women's health. The mechanisms linking gestational stress, particularly complications and adverse outcomes, to premature postpartum health conditions in both women and their offspring are recognized but not well understood. These mechanisms likely involve pre-existing susceptibilities and long-term effects of placental and metabolic imbalances during pregnancy. Our limited understanding of these pathways during gestation impedes the development of tailored early prevention strategies for the postpartum period. This project aims to address these gaps to enable the prediction of postpartum maternal and offspring health using pregnancy characteristics and biomarkers during gestation.

Description of the cohort

Mothers and children of the Odense Child Cohort. Additionally, we analyze the background population of individuals pregnant in the same year as the mothers of the Odense Child Cohort.

Data and biological material

Maternal morphometrics and pregnancy outcomes, questionnaire data, data from the patient journal, blood samples, urine., data obtained for the children during their follow-up. Longterm maternal health is assessed through the Danish national registries.

Collaborating researchers and departments

University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Germany

• Lucas Bacmeister, MD
• Professor Dirk Westermann, MD

Department of Endocrinology, OUH

• Professor Dorte Glintborg, MD PhD