The Ontario Birth Study (OBS) was established in 2013 to follow people through pregnancy and postpartum to improve our understanding of pregnancy complications while improving pregnancy and infant health.
In 2018, we began following up with families and children at various times after birth (currently up to 4.5 years) in OBS Kids. These programs aim to create a resource for researchers to determine the mechanisms that underlie pregnancy complications and identify factors related to child development and long-term health outcomes.
Studies using OBS data and biological samples are already being undertaken to examine the drivers and biomarkers of pregnancy complications, including growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Other studies are determining how events during pregnancy and early postnatal life relate to later life health, learning and social functioning. The OBS exists to allow the development of strategies that support healthy development while limiting diseases throughout life.
