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
- Physical Evolution through Pregnancy (PEP) – at AUT Millennium - Expression of interest
- Running Evolution through Pregnancy (REP) – at AUT Millennium - Expression of interest
- Vitamin A levels in pregnancy – at AUT Millennium - Expression of interest
- Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy - Online Survey - Click here for the survey
We are currently recruiting wahine who are pregnant, or are hoping to soon be pregnant for the Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project and/or the Running Evolution through Pregnancy Project at AUT Millennium (Antares Place, Albany, Auckland) and/or Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy. You can express your interest to participate in our online form to participate in either. For Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy please use the link above.
Benefits of participation:
- Personal tracking of physical changes throughout your pregnancy
- Expert advice through educational sessions and workshops to support your wellbeing during and beyond your pregnancy
Download the participant information sheet for studies at AUT Millennium
Alternatively, you contact
- Dr Hannah Wyatt for studies at AUT Millennium, email PEP@aut.ac.nz or call 021 0511 579
- 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 are currently 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). You can express your interest to participate in our online form.
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.
- 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
Participant recruitment - Running Evolution through Pregnancy (REP)
We are currently recruiting wahine who have run for at least once per week for a minimum of 20 minutes before pregnancy.
Women will be invited to undertake motion analysis testing at monthly intervals at AUT Millennium.
Download the participant information sheet
Alternatively, you contact Dr Hannah Wyatt, email PEP@aut.ac.nz or call 021 0511 579
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.
Vitamin A levels in pregnancy – at AUT Millennium - Expression of interest
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. 266 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 relating to musculoskeletal movement experienced throughout pregnancy.
- Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Kelly Sheerin, Teea Francis, Dr Nimisha Waller, Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Professor Patria Hume
(AUTEC ethics # 22/319)
Our partners
Contact us
Dr Hannah Wyatt
PEP Biomechanics Lead
pep@aut.ac.nz
021 0511 579
Participant recruitment - Physical Evolution through Pregnancy (PEP) and Running Evolution through Pregnancy (REP)
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.