Insomnia in pregnancy and in new parenthood can be torturous. Many women present to our service with frustration and exhaustion related to insomnia. Women report feeling 'tired but wired', with increasing pressure to sleep when they can, and resulting low mood or anxiety when they can't. The 'bedtime battle' can become an anxious loop of fearing not sleeping, imagining not coping the next day, thereby stimulating the brain in ways that ignite alertness, and prohibit sleep. Interestingly, little research has been done in this area.

Sleep experts and researchers at the Royal Women's Hospital and Monash University are investigating this phenomenon in their efforts to design treatments that best support women to manage sleep disturbances. They are seeking participants for this important research. Can you help?

The SMILE Study is recruiting first-time mothers who are less than 32 weeks pregnant.

As a part of the project you will be allocated to 1 of 3 sleep programs and receive either:
1. A new ‘smart’ bassinet designed to help baby’s sleep.
2. Sleep information and strategies via email at 6 different times during pregnancy and after your baby is born.
3. A booklet containing sleep information and sleep hygiene.

The programs are completely free, and you can receive up to $60 in gift vouchers as a token of thanks for participating. 

All aspects of participation are completed from the comfort of your own home via the internet or telephone!

For more information and sign up, click on the link below.
https://redcap.cdms.org.au/surveys/?s=MN8MX3RPDY
Royal Women’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee Number: 19/17

Conception, pregnancy, the postnatal period, and the early parenting years can pose difficulties for many people. Practitioners like to stay abreast of the common challenges people face, and the treatments that may help their patients with such challenges. In order to do this, ongoing research is vital.

The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network provides an online research portal for academic researchers (in the perinatal field) to post their studies to reach women in pregnancy and the postnatal period.

If you are pregnant or new mum, and you have the time or inclination to participate in a research study, your participation could further inform practitioners who work with hopeful parents, pregnancy, birth, the postnatal period, and early parenthood?

​Click here to see if you are eligible to participate in one of the listed studies. 

The latest listed studies explore emotional wellbeing in same sex attracted women, and 'baby brain' in pregnant women.

Latrobe University:
Emotional Wellbeing in Sexual Minority Women in the Perinatal Period
Same sex attracted pregnant women and new mums

Deakin University:
Does late pregnancy affect women's cognitive functioning?
Women in third trimester of pregnancy and women who are not pregnant, have never been pregnant and are not planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months

Thank you for your consideration and potential contribution towards these important research studies.

The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network provides an online research portal for academic researchers (in the perinatal field) to post their studies, giving visitors to the APPN site the option of supporting research. 

​Click here to see if you are eligible to participate in one of the listed studies. Your experience could make an enormous difference to the experiences of others. The studies currently listed include:​


Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Study 
Seeking parents with personal experience of perinatal OCD 

Professional knowledge and practice in perinatal mental health 
Seeking clinicians who work with new and expecting parents

Are postnatal experiences different for first-time and experienced mothers?
Seeking mothers who have had a baby in the last 2 years (over 18 years old, English speaking, living in Australia

Investigating psychosocial factors and their impact on eating behaviours during pregnancy and the postpartum Seeking women between 18 and 24 weeks pregnant

FIFO and Managing a Baby (FaMB) Study 
Seeking pregnant or postnatal women whose partners 'fly-in-fly-out' - FIFO​
Coping with my baby study 
Seeking pregnant or postnatal women whose partners 'fly-in-fly-out'' - FIFO

The perinatal food and mood study 
Seeking women - 8 to 15 weeks pregnant

Acceptance and Mindfulness in couples dealing with infertility 
Seeking couples dealing with infertility

Experiences of pregnancy and the year after birth 
Seeking women who have given birth in past 12 months

The acceptability and usefulness of a website addressing how partners can support each other to prevent perinatal depression and anxiety in the transition to parenthood 
Seeking anyone over 18

Thank you for your consideration and potential contribution towards these important research studies.
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