The Road to Predicting Preterm Birth Begins Here
What triggers labor? How can we detect it? And how can we improve birth outcomes? We’re on a mission to find out.
Over 15 million babies will be born prematurely this year.
The effects of preterm birth (a baby born before 37 weeks) range from the emotional to the costly to the devastating. Despite the fact that global preterm birth rates continue to rise, solutions that effectively predict, prevent, or treat simply do not exist in a clinician’s toolkit.
At Bloomlife we aim to change this.
We recognize that, in order to decrease the rate and impact of preterm birth, we first need to better understand and predict preterm labor and birth. Our new initiative, the WISH project, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 program, tackles these exact challenges.
1. Better understand labor physiology
“The biological triggers of labor onset are still unknown”
Dr. Frederic Chantraine, MD Ph.D., and Principal Investigator at CHR Citadelle in Liege (Belgium).
First, we need to gather the data.
The Bloomlife sensor has the ability to capture a range of parameters from mom and baby including uterine muscle contractions and contraction properties. In addition, we can capture data from expecting moms while they rest comfortably at home since application of our sensor does not require a medical professional. These elements — powerful physiological data from a mom unaffected by a clinical setting — will allow us to analyze the most comprehensive dataset ever collected in the latter half of pregnancy.
WISH project studies will first capture recordings starting as early as 20 weeks and extending to labor onset and through labor. This longitudinal dataset will provide a glimpse inside the human body never seen before, a way to understand the physiological differences between normal labor and preterm labor.
2. Provide a reliable and accurate tool for labor detection
“Identification of the early stages of labor are often difficult to interpret.”
Dr. Frederic Chantraine, MD Ph.D.
Next, we improve our models.
Prior to launching the WISH project, we investigated our capacity to predict birth using consumer generated data. That ongoing study employed data collected with our current technology, using similar physiological factors. Models based on those datasets demonstrated birth prediction with an accuracy of over 87%.
The initial stages of the WISH project will hone these prediction tools with the new dataset specifically focused on detecting preterm labor. The goal: develop a complete solution to offer to clinicians to predict, prevent, and/or treat preterm labor and birth.
3. Adapt tools into clinical workflow to improve birth outcomes
“This project will develop and validate a novel tool for remote labor detection to ensure each mom gets the care she needs when she needs it.”
— Dr. Frederic Chantraine, MD Ph.D.
Finally, we will determine how best to utilize the solution provided to impact birth outcomes.
We recognize that a solution must have value in theory and in practice. While we strongly believe that we can impact birth outcomes, we will need to see how the solutions we provide adapt to the toolkit of the clinicians working directly with patients. In this last phase of the project, we will work directly with medical professionals to design and implement adaptation of our findings into clinical workflow.
At Bloomlife, our ongoing research programs aim to bring much overdue innovation and solutions to help solve the biggest challenges in prenatal care. To stay up to date on our latest research, follow us here or sign up for our Bloomlife Research Newsletter.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 778503.
