The University of Wollongong is calling on new Southern Highlands mothers to share their challenges during the summer bushfires and COVID-19.
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Almost seven-in-10 pregnant women and new mothers, 65 per cent, in the ACT and southeast NSW said they were "severely exposed" to bushfire smoke in our recent summer.
Almost nine-in-10, 85 per cent, said they isolated themselves and their family at some point this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are early results of the Mother and Child 2020 (MC2020) survey conducted by researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), University of Canberra and University of Wollongong (UOW), in partnership with Canberra Health Services and NSW Health.
The MC2020 study is examining the effects of this year's bushfires and COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their babies.
Mid-way through the survey, 750 women have participated.
The researchers are urging more women to enrol to increase the strength of the study findings.
They are encouraging mothers from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities to share their experiences.
The survey highlights the challenges women and their babies faced throughout the bushfires and pandemic as well as their adaptability and resilience in both the short and longer term.
Dr Danielle Schoenaker from UOW's School of Medicine said the researchers would like to hear from more women in the Southern Highlands about their health, wellbeing and support during the bushfires and the pandemic.
Researchers would also like to hear about the challenges of being pregnant, having a baby and being a new mum.
"Women who were pregnant or planning to become pregnant while they were exposed to bushfire smoke may be worried about their health and that of their baby," Dr Schoenaker said.
"Through this study we will be able to determine if and to what extent different levels of bushfire smoke exposure may have affected the health of mothers and their babies, and inform women on how they could be protected in the future.
"The restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19 have significantly affected the majority of women who participated in the study so far. Women may have changed their dietary habits, physical activity levels, and missed the close support from family and friends.
The survey is available to anyone who was pregnant or had a baby no older than three months on February 1, 2020 or became pregnant by April 30, 2020 in Canberra and South-eastern New South Wales.
The four-part survey asks mothers a series of questions about how the bushfires and pandemic affected their pregnancy care, birthing and early months of having a new baby, including on their own mental and physical health, as well as the health of their baby.
The survey also asks mothers about how the crises affected their daily life, including access to healthcare, childcare, employment and contact with friends and family.
People can register for the Mother and Child 2020 survey here: https://medicalschool.anu.edu.au/research/projects/mother-and-child-2020-mc2020
