Medium- and long-term physical and mental well-being among individuals with severe maternal morbidity


While many pregnancies are not complicated, some individuals face unexpected outcomes during pregnancy, as they give birth, or in the time-period following delivery, that can result in severe illness, prolonged hospitalization, and long-term disability – an experience that is known as severe maternal morbidity, or SMM.

SMM affects approximately 1.6% of pregnancies in Canada, but in the Hamilton region of Ontario, this number is estimated to be at least twice as high.

The SERENE Project is a three-year research effort committed to exploring why SMM happens more often in the Hamilton region, which people are most affected, what the long-term physical, social and mental health implications are for these people, and how SMM and its negative effects can be reduced.

This work is being conducted by a group of obstetricians, midwives, family physicians, mental health clinicians, nurses and researchers who are passionate about improving pregnancy outcomes for all people.

Learn more about SERENE here.

If you have experienced SMM and would like more information about how you can be involved with this important work, please click or tap this Get involved with SERENE link.