Are you experiencing high levels of anxiety in your pregnancy?

The RELAX study is testing an online programme for pregnant women to help reduce worry and anxiety, run by King’s College London, that NCT is involved with. Find out about it and see if you’d be interested in taking part.

RELAX is short for ‘REducing Levels of AnXiety’ in pregnancy and after birth.

  • 40% of pregnant women and new mothers experience anxiety.
  • The RELAX study is testing a new online training for pregnant women who worry.
  • The training aims to reduce worry and anxiety before and after birth.
  • We already know that this type of training reduces worry and anxiety in non-pregnant people.
  • The study will find out whether the RELAX training helps to reduce anxiety in pregnant women and new mothers.

What does it involve?

  • 12 online sessions, to be completed over four weeks.
  • Each session takes about 20 minutes.
  • Sessions can be completed on a tablet, laptop, or computer.
  • Sessions involve listening to short scenarios, imagining how the scenario may turn out and answering some questions.
  • You will be able to view your progress as you go along.

Stage 1: 

Women who are 16-28 weeks pregnant are invited to complete our screening questionnaire.

Stage 2: 

Half of the women in the study will have their usual maternity care plus the RELAX sessions and half will continue with their usual care without the RELAX sessions.

Interested in taking part?

For the participant information sheet and FAQs, as well as details of how to express an interest in taking part, click here.