This newsletter is for anyone who is interested in knowing more about maternity and family research, what happens behind the scenes, with a spotlight on different studies. 

I will also be letting you know about online discussion sessions for a range of research projects. 

What is parent involvement in research and why does it matter?

I became involved in maternity research ten years ago, when I ran antenatal and postnatal groups. Researchers would regularly come along to chat to tired mums, who were looking after their babies, and while toddlers ran amok. It was brilliant chaos and these honest conversations added much needed perspectives to research studies. 

Involvement can simply mean coming along to discussion sessions, sharing your experience and ideas or it can mean having an ongoing role on a panel or advisory group, or being part of the management team for a study. 

This insight makes an incredible difference to research but it can also make a difference to you, sharing your experience gives you a voice with could make important changes for future care. 

How do research discussion sessions work?

• I organise online sessions with a small group of parents and I facilitate the conversation with the researcher. 
  
  
• Sessions last for about an hour and I get in touch before with relevant information and links.
  
  
• Some researchers need specific experiences but most sessions need general experience of early parenting and accessing maternity services.
  
  
• You may also be offered a gift voucher for your time spent as part of the session.

If you are an expectant parent or you have a baby, toddler or young child and you are interested in knowing more about research and possibly being involved in helping to shape projects, please do sign up for this newsletter. 

It would be great if you could share it with friends as well, so I can reach and involve more parents.

You can also be part of a small Whatsapp community for parents, where you can find out more about research and chat about the different aspects of being a parent.