This research study will be conducted in cooperation with Atlanta Birth Center (ABC) and Emory University. Atlanta Birth Center is the only free-standing birth center in Atlanta, GA that provides a full spectrum of care for women during preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, gynecological, and well woman care. Using the midwifery model of care, ABC provides holistic care to all they serve in the community.
Study Objective:
The Weight of It All: Balancing the Scales for Pregnancy & Birth in Black Women" is a research study at Atlanta Birth Center in Atlanta, GA. Co-led by Emory nursing investigators, a Community Advisory Board, and the team at Atlanta Birth Center, this study is focused on promoting health and eliminating health disparities through a better understanding of whether some types of fats in a person’s body make them more likely to have an easier labor and birth (short and uncomplicated labor, labor that starts on its’ own near the time of the due date).
Difficulties of labor initiation and progression are responsible for much of the injury and death seen around the time of birth in both women and their neonates, and Black women are much more likely than white women to experience injury and death around the time of birth. The grant project will measure social determinants of health, pregnancy lifestyle, and blood samples in two groups of Black women who receive prenatal care in either a freestanding birth center or a hospital clinic to better understand how pregnancy experiences and health influence labor outcomes.
This research project grant brings together innovative technology and a multi-disciplinary team with scientific expertise in labor dysfunction, body composition measurement, comprehensive nutritional, lipidomic, racial disparities investigations, and systems biology approaches to confront labor dysfunction--one of the most impactful conditions affecting maternal morbidity and mortality. This project is led by a dynamic Community Advisory Board with representation from both patients and healthcare providers.
(National Institute of Health Grant Award for Dr. Nicole Carlson | Emory University | Atlanta GA)
What is Academic Research?
Academic research is when scientists conduct experiments to answer a question or solve a problem they have encountered. Experiments are not only completed in a lab with Bunsen burners and test tubes, even though that is what comes to mind when it is mentioned. Research possibilities are endless, whether it is about following a group of people over time or testing new innovations in technology. The only requirement for research is having a problem to solve, a theory to test or a question to answer. Research is a solution to all the above.
Academic research works to discover new information. The scientific method is followed from beginning to end in hopes of finding an answer and conclusion to the initial proposed hypothesis. In this way, academic research can serve as a catalyst; it increases knowledge, creates new opportunities, and spurs innovation (ARTiFACTS, 2022).
In this study the research team is trying to find out if a midwifery model of care helps protect Black women giving birth in Atlanta, Georgia from labor complications.
Atlanta Birth Center (ABC)
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
This study is guided by a community advisory board (CAB). A CAB gives us the opportunity to have community involvement, perspective, feedback, and expertise on our study protocols, study design, and study questionnaires. Our CAB is comprised of eight women, including the primary investigator and the co-investigator (both are midwives who work at Atlanta Birth Center in addition to being researchers), the research coordinator (who is also a registered nurse), Atlanta Birth Center nurses, administrative team members, and people who birthed at Atlanta Birth Center. These community members work with the researchers to be sure that the project is conducted in service to and with close guidance by the community of Black people giving birth in the Atlanta area.
Study Team
Nicole
Carlson
PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
Primary Investigator
Nicole S. Carlson, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN is an Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, at Emory University’s School of Nursing. At Emory, Dr. Carlson conducts research on the biologic mechanisms of labor and strategies for achieving optimal perinatal outcomes and decreasing racial disparities in pregnant people of different sizes. She has received support for her research from the National Institutes of Health, the March of Dimes, and The American College of Nurse-Midwives. Nicole also works as a midwife at Atlanta Birth Center. Nicole was born and raised in Georgia and decided to leave her career as a social worker to become a midwife after experiencing first-hand the amazing power of being heard and cared for by a midwife during her first pregnancy. She went on to have both of her children with the help of midwives, learning through these experiences about the depths of her own strength as both a woman and a mother. Nicole lives in Atlanta with her husband of 32 years, and in her free time she loves to meditate, read novels, and hike.
Kareena
Cumberbatch
MSN, BSN, RN, BHSA
Clinical Care Coordinator I
Kareena is a Jamaican born native, who migrated to South Florida as a young child. From early on in life she knew she wanted to help people but was not sure how she would do that. After receiving her Bachelor’s in Health Services Administration (BHSA), Kareena worked for a small Anesthesia practice in Delray Beach, FL. Though fulfilling, the feeling of wanting to do more for patients was always present. It was then that Kareena decided to pursue nursing as a lifelong career.
Kareena pursued her Associate Degree in Nursing, her Bachelor’s in Nursing and recently her Master’s in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration/Leadership. She has been a nurse for almost 15 years, and a Doula for 10, which is where her passion to help empower women choose for themselves, how they want to give birth was born. Landing in labor and delivery for the last nine years, Kareena is currently working PRN at Atlanta Birth Center and as a Clinical Research Coordinator for this study. Kareena enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, her professional photography passion, hiking and running. Now a mom of three BOYS, she and her husband cannot wait for their next adventure!
Alexis
Dunn Amore
PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
Co-Investigator
Alexis Dunn Amore is a tenure track Assistant Professor at the Emory University School of Nursing and a Certified Nurse Midwife at the Atlanta Birth Center.
Dr. Dunn Amore is committed to advancing the health of those most vulnerable. Her research and service are focused on dismantling perinatal health disparities as well as developing initiatives to address the root causes of maternal mortality. Her work has improved the health of thousands of women through research and clinical practice as well as advocacy efforts on the state and national level. She is a fellow in the American College of Nurse Midwives and the American Academy of Nursing in which she actively serves on several committees. She is passionate about the community and works in collaboration with Georgia community organizations to develop timely and innovative strategies to address disparities in health outcomes for black women during pregnancy, as well as initiatives to build social support and resilience in the birth community.
Dr. Dunn Amore has received funding for her research from the National Institutes of Health, the American College of Nurse Midwives, and Emory University. She has published in a variety of journals including the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health and Biological Research for Nursing. Additionally, Dr. Dunn Amore actively disseminates health-related information through mainstream and social media outlets, and has been featured on NPR radio as well as television broadcasts for Fox 5 Atlanta.
Abby
Britt
PhD Student
Research Assistant
Abby is a PhD student at the Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of nursing and a practicing midwife with the Emory Nurse-Midwifery Service at Grady. She came to midwifery through pursuing a master's degree in public anthropology with an emphasis on human rights and working with survivors of trauma. She completed her BSN and MSN as a Fuld Fellow at the Emory School of Nursing. Her research interests include respectful maternity care, trauma/PTSD, epigenetic/physiologic impacts of stress/trauma on perinatal outcomes, and trauma-informed care.
Originally from Tennessee, Abby now lives in Decatur with her husband and two daughters. When she is not working, you can find Abby outdoors with her family, trying out a new restaurant, or planning for her next travel opportunity!
Faith-Tomi
Wilson
Community Advisory Board
Faith-Tomi Wilson is a woman who wears many hats. As a wife, millennial mom, mental health therapist, certified wellness coach, published author, social media content creator & innovator & full- time entrepreneur she remains rooted and centered through her relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith-Tomi Wilson is passionate about educating, empowering & equipping Black and brown mothers in their holistic wellness journey as they prepare for pregnancy, overcome “mom-brain,” embrace & nourish their new body & discover their new identity along the way. Faith-Tomi Wilson knows that she is called for such a time as this to edify the body of Christ, share the good news with the lost through her calling & assignment, and uphold the standard of the Kingdom as she rebuilds the pillar and mountain of the Family, in our societies. As a first-generation Nigerian American who is proud of her culture, roots & heritage living in between two or even multiple worlds is nothing new to her and a reality she embraces daily.
Tietra
Jones
BSN, RN
Community Advisory Board
As an advocate for health and empowerment, Tietra is committed to educating and nurturing growing families through her work as a Registered Nurse. She has almost two decades of experience as a nurse and has worked with Postpartum mothers and babies in a variety of settings. With a biology degree from Spelman College in Atlanta GA, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Emory University, she is prepared to help families on their journey to parenthood. She is certified as a Childbirth Educator as well as a CPR Instructor with the American Heart Association. She is currently working on completing requirements to become an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.
Tietra is passionate about pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It was out of this passion that her business, Atlanta Childbirth Resources, was developed. She is a wife and mother of two children, each of whom were breastfed for two years. She has helped countless women on their journey to motherhood. Tietra believes that an informed choice is the best choice, especially as it relates to pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation.
Amanda
Mullen
Client Care and Office Manager
Amanda Mullen, Atlanta Birth Centers glue that holds it all together and another one of our amazing Community Advisory Board Members. Amanda was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but has called Atlanta home for over 10 years. She earned her degree from Baylor University in Psychology and Child and Family Studies and has served in distinct roles throughout her adult life with non-profits, social service, and education. She has also served other women as a doula for over 10 years now.
Her natural skill sets, and experience have given her the tools to be an administrator and manager. It has been her passion and joy to encourage women, especially Black women, to know and understand their birthing options and the power of advocating for themselves and their families.
As a Black woman, a daughter, a wife, and a mother of 5 (with all natural and unmedicated births from her 4’9” frame) she has grown to love the beautiful and life-altering season of pregnancy and birth. Each day she hopes to be a part of supporting and affirming the God-given dignity that all women deserve in their birthing space and journey.
Melinda
Higgins
PhD
Statistician
Melinda Higgins is a senior biostatistician and research professor in the Office of Nursing Research - School of Nursing - Emory University in Atlanta, GA (2007-current). She is the author and teacher of two PhD level courses at Emory: Quantitative Analysis of Clinical Data every Fall semester (https://melindahiggins2000.github.io/N736/) and Big Data Analytics for Healthcare every Spring semester (https://melindahiggins2000.github.io/N741bigdata/). Prior to that she was a Principal Research Scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (1996-2011) (https://gtri.gatech.edu/) and Program Manager for the $17M National Guard Bureau Technology Consortium.
She has over 25+ years' experience performing and managing research in wide-ranging applications including healthcare bio-behavioral phenotype characterization and modeling, statistical support for clinical trials, aircraft sensor systems, remote sensing, multispectral/hyperspectral processing, signatures intelligence, knowledge decision support systems, geospatial information systems, sensors and image fusion, and target recognition.
Jessica
Alvarez
PhD, RD
Co-Investigator
Jessica Alvarez, PhD, RD, is Associate Professor in the Division Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids of the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Alvarez is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute.
Dr. Alvarez is a registered dietitian with a Master's in Clinical Nutrition and a PhD in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Alvarez's research focuses on the role of nutrition and body composition on metabolism in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Her research integrates state-of-the-art metabolomics with many aspects of nutrition research including rigorous clinical trials, body composition analysis, biomarker assessment, analysis of dietary intake and physical activity. Specific research foci include: 1) use of plasma high-resolution metabolomics, redox and bioenergetic assessment to identify targets for nutritional intervention to optimize health in adults with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, 2) role of vitamin D in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox, insulin sensitivity, vascular function, and clinical outcomes in the general population and various clinical diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis and chronic kidney disease, 3) role of diet, body composition, and energy metabolism in ethnic health disparities of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, and 4) role of diet in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox-mediated pathophysiology. Dr. Alvarez is currently supported by a NIH/NIDDK K01 grant entitled, "Integration of Nutritional Metabolomics with Bioenergetics in Cystic Fibrosis.
Kristal
Maner-Smith
PhD
Emory Integrated Metabolomics and Lipidomics Core, Core Director
Kristal received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Howard University. Her PhD is in Analytical Chemistry, with a focus on mass spectrometry and lipid biochemistry from Cornell University. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and a second postdoctoral research fellowship at Emory University. She was a Ruth L. Kirschstein and American Diabetes Association fellow. She now serves as the core director of the Emory Metabolomics and Lipidomics Core. Her favorite part of job is being able to impact human health through science!
Anne L
Dunlop
MD, MPH
Co-Investigator
Dr. Anne Dunlop is a Professor, research track, and is board-certified in family medicine and preventive medicine and holds a masters’ degree in epidemiology. Dr. Dunlop has experience designing and conducting: (1) health services and clinical research in public and private clinic settings; (2) epidemiologic analyses of large data sets containing state and perinatal regional data to better understand reproductive health outcomes in the state of Georgia and variability in outcomes by race/ethnicity; (3) health policy research to better understand the impact of health policies on maternal-child health care utilization and outcomes. Dr. Dunlop currently leads OPA-, CDC-, and NIH-funded studies addressing women’s reproductive health outcomes and impacts of health practices and policies.
Chaelin
Hong
Student
Student Research Assistant
Chaelin is a sophomore at Emory University majoring in Anthropology and Human Biology with a minor in Global Health, Culture, and Society. She is from Seattle, WA and is on the pre-dental track. On campus, she loves to be involved with organizations like Partners in Health Engage (PIH) and Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). She also is currently a teaching assistant for an introductory anthropology course and works part-time as the executive assistant of an Atlanta-based organization that raises scholarship funds for children in the Korean welfare system. Through her courses and experiences, she has become passionate about access to quality care for all as well as exploring racial and ethnic maternal/infant care and outcome disparities.
FAQ
What do you hope to achieve by doing this study?
The hope is to demonstrate that the midwifery model of care is pivotal to decreasing the complications that may arise from metabolic imbalances in Black women during their pregnancy and delivery.
Who stands to benefit the most from this research?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 700 women die each year in the United States from pregnancy or delivery complications. The risk of pregnancy related deaths for Black women is 3 to 4 times higher than those of white women. Research suggests that half of these deaths are preventable, therefore, more information is needed to better understand the actual cause of these deaths. Black women who are giving birth in the United States stand to benefit the most from this research.
Why is there so much emphasis on the midwifery model of care?
The midwifery model of care focuses on centering the needs of the patient and their family. Instead of looking at the person as a single entity, the midwifery model of care focuses on the entirety of that person's lived experience. Using an integrated, holistic, and comprehensive approach midwives can provide specialized care for women and families. A lot of what is missing in healthcare today is a lack of perspective and empathy for the lived experience and the impact that it has on one’s health.
What will the researcher do with my information?
The research team will gather information through blood tests, body measurements, placenta and microbiome samples, and survey questionnaires. The data will be analyzed by our data and statistics team, and we plan to share results with both the scientific community and the community of birthing people. All samples and information collected for this study will be de-identified, so that they cannot be traced back by others to study participants.
Will I be compensated for participating in this study?
Yes, there are two visits associated with the study. You will be given a $100 gift/e-gift card for each visit. There will also be snacks provided and a comfortable area for questionnaires/surveys to be completed on location.
Can I leave the study for any reason once I have signed up?
Yes. You are not obligated to participate. It is completely voluntary. Your participation has no bearing on the care you receive from the birth center.
