Welcome to PRaMM (Perinatal Research and Maternal Medicine)

Every expectant parent looks forward to celebrating the birth of a healthy baby. Pregnancy is a time of eager expectation: plans are made and life-styles dreamily changed. The growth and birth of a baby is a fearful and wonderful process. Joyfully for most parents dreams and expectations are realized.  However, every year in Australia over 1,700 babies are stillborn (the rate of stillbirths is almost double the number of deaths reported for all children between the ages of 1-14 years), over 4,000 babies are born very early  and over 7,600 babies are born very small.  One in ten women may experience high blood pressure in pregnancy, which sometimes can be life-threatening.

The problems of being born early can be lifelong. Life-long consequences of being born very early include chronic lung disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy and behavioural difficulties.

The PRAMM Researchers are dedicated to designing, performing and implementing research to improve the health of mothers and their babies.