Te Kukunetanga: Developing Cycle of Life Research Programme
Te Kukunetanga aims to improve the pregnancy journey and outcomes for wahine and their whanau.
A women’s body undergoes unique progressive changes in shape and size throughout pregnancy and in the six months after the birth. While it's generally accepted that the physical changes experienced throughout this time affect the way women walk, balance, exercise and carry out daily tasks, we currently have limited insight into how these changes evolve across time, and how they differ between women.
By monitoring physical and functional changes of women throughout pregnancy and post-natal, we can develop foundational knowledge of the pregnancy journey, which will provide an opportunity to inform health-related practices for pregnant women.
Te Kukunetanga launch panelists
In the news:
Participant recruitment
- Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy - Online Survey - Click here for the survey
- Expression of Emotions in the Body: Exploring the impact of pregnancy emotions on body movement, bodily sensations and heart rate variability - Click here to register your interest
Download the participant information sheet for Expression of Emotions in the Body study
Alternatively, you contact
- Sabina Just for Expression of Emotions in the Body study, sabina.just@autuni.ac.nz or call 0272273187
- Dr Amy Kercher for Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy - Online Survey, amy.kercher@aut.ac.nz, call +64 9 921 9999 (ext. 5186)
Te Kukunetanga research projects in progress
Te Kukunetanga research programme has 10 projects in progress. For details please click on the project titles below.
The Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies by monitoring changes in body shape and size, walking gait and balance throughout pregnancy and in the six months after the birth.
AUTEC ethics # 21/49
Principal investigator: Patria Hume
Participant recruitment - Physical Evolution through Pregnancy (PEP)
We have now finished recruiting wahine who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are hoping to soon be pregnant for the Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project at AUT Millennium (Antares Place, Albany, Auckland). We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.
Download the participant information sheet
Alternatively, you contact Dr Hannah Wyatt, email PEP@aut.ac.nz or call 021 0511 579
Associate investigators:
Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Heather Donald, Dr Nimisha Waller, Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Dr Sally Britnell, Dr Alyssa-joy Spence, Professor Susan Crowther, Professor Judith McAra-Couper, Dr Stacy Gillard-Tito, Professor Sarat Singamneni, Dee Holdsworth-Perks, Ajinkya Nafde, Chris Tillack, Christine Delaney, Judith Pullen Burry, Sabina Just, Oli Youlton, Alyssa Spence, Teea Francis, William Huang, Isabel Neal, Anya Zoellner, Jordan Rear, Oliver Viant, Eva Filleur, Hannah Creamer, Teea Francis, Dr Sarah-Kate Millar, Bridget Munro, Jane Cappaert, Emily Lawrence, Cailee Caldwell.
We aim to determine the relationship between health vitals (blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation) and physical activity during pregnancy.
- Dr Shilin Deng, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Sally Britnell
(AUTEC ethics # 21/49)
As a free and easily accessible form of exercise, running is popular among the general population. We aim to understand how changes during pregnancy influence running gait and the loading experienced, with the purpose of providing clear recommendations for engagement with running throughout and beyond pregnancy.
AUTEC ethics # 21/401
Principal investigator: Dr Hannah Wyatt
Associate investigators:
- Dr Kelly Sheerin - AUT Millennium SPRINZ Clinics Manager and Senior Lecturer
- Dr. Kim Hébert-Losier – University of Waikato Senior Lecturer and biomechanics lead
- Professor Patria Hume – AUT SPRINZ Professor and PEP lead investigator
- Isabel Neal – AUT SPRINZ placement student
- William Huang – AUT SPRINZ placement student
- Teea Francis – AUT SPRINZ placement student
- Oliver Viant – AUT SPRINZ placement student
The project will examine maternal psychological well-being throughout pregnancy and the post-natal period. We will look at the connections between mood, anxiety, social support, attitudes toward exercise, mother’s sleep, baby’s sleep and patterns of exercise and activity. We aim to be able to improve mothers’ engagement with exercise in the post-natal period, and to improve their wellbeing and mental health.
Recruiting now for this online survey - Click here for the survey
AUTEC ethics #22/99
Principal investigator
- Amy Kercher
Associate investigators:
- Liesje Donkin
- Hannah Wyatt
- Patria Hume
The consumption of a rich-nutrient diet is especially important during pregnancy. Although a variety of whole foods are optimal, ensuring all nutritional needs are met during pregnancy can be challenging. We aim to increase our understanding of women's food consumption during pregnancy, with the purpose of enhancing education and strategies for optimising nutrition.
We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.
AUTEC ethics # 21/144
Principle investigators:
- Heather Donald
- Hannah Wyatt
We aimed to gain insight into women’s experiences of running during pregnancy, including running habits, musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries, and the timing and reasons for modification or cessation of running. 3,102 women have completed the survey and data analysis is currently being conducted.
- Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kim Herbet-Losier
(AUTEC ethics # 21/401)
We aim to understand how body morphology changes during pregnancy affect balance during pregnancy.
- Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kelly Sheerin
(AUTEC ethics # 21/49)
We aim to build Māori participation in research, engagement with Māori stakeholders, capacity and capability building, relationship development, networking, information events.
- Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Stacy Gillard-Tito
We aim to provide evidence-based best practice recommendations on physical activity/exercise during pregnancy for New Zealand women and those who provide healthcare during pregnancy. The guidelines may be used to encourage women to achieve the levels of physical activity/exercise that are recommended for optimal health during pregnancy and in the postpartum period; and provide health professionals with evidence-based guidance on optimal physical activity behaviours during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.
- Professor Wendy Brown, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Katie Palmer Du Preez, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Olivia Wright.
We aim to improve our understanding of the physical challenges in relation to movement and exercise throughout the childbirth year and inform acceptable educational resources for childbirth care and practice.
We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.
- Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Nimisha Waller, Professor Patria Hume, Professor Susan Crowther, Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Dr Kelly Sheerin and Teea Francis
(AUTEC ethics # 22/319)
This project will investigate the intricate relationship between pregnancy emotions, and these physiological aspects, that will offer insight into a holistic experience of expectant women. It is our aim to empower women by developing emotional awareness and regulation tool that supports women’s independence and health during pregnancy and childbirth.
Recruiting now for this in-person study - click to register your interest
AUTEC ethics #23/129
Download the participant information sheet
Principle Investigator:
- Sabina Just
Associate investigators:
- Dr Hannah Wyatt
- Dr Nimisha Waller
- Dr Ed Maunder
- Professor Peter McNair
Contact us
Dr Hannah Wyatt
PEP Biomechanics Lead
pep@aut.ac.nz
021 0511 579
Our team
This research programme has been co-created with iwi, interdisciplinary researchers and people from various backgrounds and ethnicities.
Evidence based guidance for pregnant wāhine
We provide practical tips based on information from research studies.
Virtual walk-through
View our 3D room walk-through and protocol video for participants for the Te Kukunetanga: Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project.
Study with us
We are keen to collaborate with postgrad students who want to study how to improve health outcomes for pregnant women at master’s or doctoral level. Our supervisors are experienced in a range of fields.