Kirsty Kitchen, Head of Policy and Communications, Birth Companions

My role on the advisory board of the PEEPO study is focused on ensuring the needs and circumstances of women who navigate the prenatal period amidst severe disadvantage are considered. I’m a firm believer in the value and strength specialist charities can bring to research, offering insights into experiences that are all too often overlooked or misunderstood.

I and my colleagues at Birth Companions sit on many research advisory panels. We are the only national charity focused on pregnant women, mothers and babies who experience severe disadvantage and inequality. Our work is framed by the first 1001 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, which evidence shows lay the foundations for the rest of a child’s life. While this period can be challenging for any woman, some mothers experience disadvantages that create huge risks for their health and wellbeing, and the life chances of their babies.

As such, we were delighted to be invited to support the PEEPO study, which offers a crucial opportunity to explore the associations between adversities in the prenatal period and children’s later development. Because we work with pregnant and postnatal women directly every single day, through our frontline services and through our Lived Experience Programme, we have an up-close understanding of the nature of those adversities in their many different forms. Some of the pregnant women we work with are in prison or under probation supervision. Some are subject to children’s social care assessment and at risk of being separated from their baby after birth. Some are recent migrants. Nearly all the women we work with have issues with housing and are living on incredibly low incomes. Many are dealing with mental health issues, are survivors of abuse, or are using substances. For the majority, several of these factors are at play in their lives.

It's vital that we build a better understanding of the impact that difficult experiences and unmet needs in the prenatal period have on longer-term outcomes for children. By reviewing a range of adversities, including maternal sleep, use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, maternal malnutrition and maternal stress, the PEEPO study will build the picture, and help us identify areas for further research. I know the applications for this work can go far and wide in improving policy for women and children, and I’m glad to be playing my part. As a policy lead in this field, my contacts and the range of ongoing projects I’m involved in mean I can help ensure this study gets in front of the right people, and can inform real-world decisions.

I’d encourage all researchers to consider whether involving specialist charities in their teams might afford similar benefits and opportunities, while ensuring that the voices and needs of those most often overlooked are brought into the centre of work that can, and should, help reduce huge social inequities.

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