Seattle Postpartum Health Project - UC Santa Barbara

Seattle Postpartum Health Project

Most research on the postpartum period has focused on infant outcomes. As a result, there is a lot we still don’t know about maternal immune function, health, and disease risk during the postpartum period – and we’d like to change that.

Who’s eligible?

We are currently recruiting individuals living in the Seattle area who are (1) between the ages of 18 and 45 and (2) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy OR within the first 6 months of the postpartum period. If you’re currently pregnant, we will schedule your data collection after you give birth.

What does participation involve?

Over a single 24-hour period of your choosing, you’ll be asked to provide a morning and evening saliva sample, keep a simple record of how and when you feed your infant, and complete an online questionnaire. We’ll also ask you to provide two finger-prick blood spot samples, but this part is optional. You can find a detailed description of the study protocol in the Consent Form. 

Will I receive compensation?

Yes, you’ll be offered a $40 Visa Cash Card or Amazon gift card (or $50, if you opt-in to the blood collection portion). You’ll also be given access to your research data (salivary hormone levels and immune profile).