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Baby research centre for capital Baby research centre for capital
(about 7 hours later)
The prime minister's wife is to open a research centre in Edinburgh aimed at improving the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies. The prime minister's wife has opened a research centre in Edinburgh aimed at improving the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Researchers are to focus on the effects of obesity in pregnancy, which carries greater risks of complications.Researchers are to focus on the effects of obesity in pregnancy, which carries greater risks of complications.
The centre, launched by Sarah Brown on Thursday, is the first Scottish venture for the baby charity Tommy's.The centre, launched by Sarah Brown on Thursday, is the first Scottish venture for the baby charity Tommy's.
It will also be the UK's first antenatal research centre dedicated to looking at obesity during pregnancy.It will also be the UK's first antenatal research centre dedicated to looking at obesity during pregnancy.
Recent figures revealed that 24% of Scottish women were obese by 2007.Recent figures revealed that 24% of Scottish women were obese by 2007.
Long-term dangersLong-term dangers
The charity said short-term dangers included labour and delivery complications, foetal and neonatal deaths, birth defects and maternal complications such as hypertension and pre-eclampsia.The charity said short-term dangers included labour and delivery complications, foetal and neonatal deaths, birth defects and maternal complications such as hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
It added that the long-term danger was that obese pregnancies could further compound the occurrence of obesity in future generations by "pre-programming" the baby in the womb.It added that the long-term danger was that obese pregnancies could further compound the occurrence of obesity in future generations by "pre-programming" the baby in the womb.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Mrs Brown said: "This work is vital to help further understanding about pregnancy complications arising from issues such as obesity. Mrs Brown said: "This work is vital to help further understanding about pregnancy complications arising from issues such as obesity.
"I hope that the team at the new Tommy's Centre will go on to uncover preventative treatments to help women have healthier pregnancies.""I hope that the team at the new Tommy's Centre will go on to uncover preventative treatments to help women have healthier pregnancies."
Although rates of obesity are rising throughout the developed world, this is a particularly important issue for Scotland Professor Jane NormanAlthough rates of obesity are rising throughout the developed world, this is a particularly important issue for Scotland Professor Jane Norman
In 2002 Mrs Brown's first child, Jennifer Jane, died 10 days after she was born.In 2002 Mrs Brown's first child, Jennifer Jane, died 10 days after she was born.
The experience led the Browns to start a research fund to investigate the causes of premature births.The experience led the Browns to start a research fund to investigate the causes of premature births.
Mrs Brown was one of the driving forces behind the establishment in 2004 of the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, also at the University of Edinburgh.Mrs Brown was one of the driving forces behind the establishment in 2004 of the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, also at the University of Edinburgh.
Jane Norman, who will take up her appointment as professor of maternal and foetal health at the university next month, said the new centre would provide an opportunity to make a "major impact" on the health of pregnant women in Scotland and beyond.Jane Norman, who will take up her appointment as professor of maternal and foetal health at the university next month, said the new centre would provide an opportunity to make a "major impact" on the health of pregnant women in Scotland and beyond.
She added: "Although rates of obesity are rising throughout the developed world, this is a particularly important issue for Scotland since it has one of the highest levels of obesity among OECD countries, second only to the USA."She added: "Although rates of obesity are rising throughout the developed world, this is a particularly important issue for Scotland since it has one of the highest levels of obesity among OECD countries, second only to the USA."
Personal tragediesPersonal tragedies
Professor Andrew Calder, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at ERI, said obesity impacted at every stage of pregnancy.Professor Andrew Calder, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at ERI, said obesity impacted at every stage of pregnancy.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Obese women have a higher rate of miscarriage and of prematurity, they have problems during labour more than women of normal stature and weight.He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Obese women have a higher rate of miscarriage and of prematurity, they have problems during labour more than women of normal stature and weight.
"That goes right through to after delivery, when they are more likely to have life-threatening conditions.""That goes right through to after delivery, when they are more likely to have life-threatening conditions."
He said the complications carried on into later life for both mothers and children.He said the complications carried on into later life for both mothers and children.
Jane Brewin, chief executive of Tommy's, said one in four women lose a baby in pregnancy or birth, many early in pregnancy.Jane Brewin, chief executive of Tommy's, said one in four women lose a baby in pregnancy or birth, many early in pregnancy.
She said: "This represents lots of personal tragedies."She said: "This represents lots of personal tragedies."
The clinical and academic campus at Little France in Edinburgh, where the University' s Queen's Medical Research Institute sits alongside the Royal Infirmary, has, according to the charity, some of the finest facilities in Europe for clinical and laboratory research.The clinical and academic campus at Little France in Edinburgh, where the University' s Queen's Medical Research Institute sits alongside the Royal Infirmary, has, according to the charity, some of the finest facilities in Europe for clinical and laboratory research.