Wearable monitor to detect blood loss after childbirth
Official title: Wearable device for continuous calculation of blood loss for postpartum hemorrhage
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11362125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will create a wearable, light-based device that continuously estimates blood loss in people who have just given birth so heavy bleeding can be found sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $553,544 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179205-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people in the immediate postpartum period after vaginal or cesarean birth, especially those with higher risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not in the immediate postpartum period or whose care setting cannot support wearable monitoring (for example, births at home without device access) are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would wear a small, light-based sensor after delivery that continuously measures blood flow and related signals. The device uses light to track changes that reflect how much blood is being lost, rather than relying only on visual checks or standard vital signs. Because the body can hide early blood loss with compensation, the monitor aims to spot bleeding earlier even when blood pressure and heart rate look normal. Researchers will test the device in hospital postpartum settings to compare its readings with current methods and refine its accuracy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians detect and treat heavy postpartum bleeding earlier, reducing complications and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Related light-based and pulse-wave technologies have shown promise for tracking blood flow and volume, but using a wearable specifically to calculate postpartum blood loss is a new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'brien, Christine M — Washington University
- Study coordinator: O'brien, Christine M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Wearable tech to track blood loss during childbirth
A wearable device monitors cardiovascular signals to detect postpartum hemorrhage early so clinicians can act quickly to protect mothers.
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Maternal Postpartum Monitoring with a Wearable Sensor (MOMS)
A wearable system called MOMS will continuously monitor multiple physiological signals in pregnant people to detect postpartum hemorrhage earlier than standard vital signs.
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AI-powered real-time postpartum hemorrhage risk predictor in clinical care
A real-time AI tool integrated into electronic health records helps identify women at risk for postpartum hemorrhage so clinicians can intervene earlier.
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Targeting Ubiquitination to Improve Uterotonic Therapies in Postpartum Hemorrhage
A new approach aims to boost uterine contractions during childbirth and after delivery by understanding how a hormone receptor is regulated, potentially reducing postpartum hemorrhage risk.
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Personalized Postpartum Bleeding Risk Prediction with Machine Learning and Genetic Scores
This grant aims to create a personalized tool that predicts a mother’s risk of postpartum hemorrhage using machine learning and her genetic information.
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OPTIMUM OB-TXA: Timing, route, and dose of tranexamic acid to prevent postpartum bleeding before cord clamping
Aims to find the best time, method, and amount of tranexamic acid given before cord clamping to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in new mothers and protect babies.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.