PRETERM BIRTH

This study tests whether a 7-day course of three antibiotics (ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, metronidazole) can prolong pregnancy better than the current standard antibiotics in pregnant people hospitalized after their water breaks early (before 34 weeks). About 56 participants wil…

This study tests whether treating asymptomatic bacteriuria (a bladder infection with no symptoms) in pregnant women can reduce the number of preterm births, stillbirths, and underweight babies. Over 1,100 pregnant women in seven low- and middle-income countries will receive eithe…

This study tests whether giving pregnant people at risk of preterm birth half the usual dose of a steroid (Celestone) works as well as the full dose to prevent serious health problems in their babies. About 3,250 participants will receive either one or two doses after an initial …

This study tests whether giving vaginal progesterone gel for a longer time can prevent preterm birth in women who became pregnant through IVF with a fresh embryo transfer. About 100 women aged 20-40 with a single pregnancy will be enrolled. Researchers will compare preterm birth …

This study tests whether chewing xylitol gum during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight. 6,000 pregnant women in Malawi will chew either a high or low dose of xylitol gum or a placebo gum. The goal is to see if improving oral health with xylitol lea…

This study tests whether a daily oral synbiotic (a mix of probiotics and prebiotics) can help women with a history of preterm birth carry their baby longer. About 400 pregnant women will take either the supplement or a placebo from early pregnancy. The goal is to see if the suppl…

This study tests whether sulfasalazine, a drug used for arthritis, can lower a stress hormone called CRH and prevent recurrent preterm birth. Fifty pregnant women with a history of preterm birth will receive either sulfasalazine or no drug between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Re…

This study compares two approaches to prevent preterm birth in pregnant women with a short cervix: a cervical stitch (cerclage) plus vaginal progesterone versus progesterone alone. About 328 women with a singleton pregnancy and a cervix shorter than 25 mm will be randomly assigne…

This study tests an app that provides information and mental health screening for parents of premature babies born between 28 and 34 weeks. The goal is to help families cope with stress and identify problems early. About 120 families will use the app or receive standard care, and…

This study looks at how showing AI predictions to doctors affects their confidence and accuracy in predicting preterm birth. About 125 obstetricians will review ultrasound images and make decisions, first without and then with AI help. The goal is to see which way of presenting A…

This study looks at whether an artificial intelligence (AI) model can predict preterm birth from cervical ultrasound images, and if the way the images are taken affects its accuracy. Researchers will collect images from 2000 pregnant women during their routine second-trimester sc…

This study looks at how stress and social support might influence preterm birth in 200 pregnant women, especially among Black and Hispanic women who face higher risks. Researchers will measure stress levels, immune responses, and cellular energy (mitochondria) to understand why s…

This UK study follows 90 families of very premature babies (born before 30 weeks) for one year after hospital discharge. It measures how caring for a baby with or without necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)—a serious bowel disease—affects the family's finances, emotions, and quality …

This study aims to find the best time to measure cervical length during a standard pregnancy ultrasound (anatomy scan) to improve accuracy. Researchers will compare measurements taken at the start versus the end of the scan in 550 pregnant individuals. They will also test if a sp…

This study looks at whether giving moderate to late preterm babies skin-to-skin contact right after birth, instead of separating them, can change how their stress genes work and improve their development. About 60 babies born vaginally between 32 and 37 weeks will be randomly ass…

This study looks at whether giving weekly cash payments to low-income mothers of preterm babies can help them visit the NICU more often. The goal is to see if more visits lead to more breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care, which are good for the baby's health. About 420 mothers wil…

This study looks at why young adults born very preterm often don't get fitter from aerobic exercise. Researchers will compare mitochondrial DNA and fitness changes between 60 preterm-born and full-term adults after a 4-5 day per week exercise program. The goal is to find mitochon…

This study looks at whether special imaging tests can help predict a serious lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature babies. Researchers will use electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and lung ultrasound to check how air moves in the lungs of 104 prete…

This study follows 6,000 pregnant women in rural Pakistan to understand how high temperatures impact pregnancy and birth outcomes. Researchers will track heat exposure, collect blood and urine samples, and monitor mothers and babies for up to a year after birth. The goal is to id…

This study follows 2,800 pregnant women and their children in Weifang, China, from early pregnancy until the child turns 18. Researchers collect data on diet, lifestyle, and environment, along with blood, urine, and other samples. The goal is to understand how factors before and …