Mother and Infant Determinants of Vascular Aging Study (MIDAS)

The purpose of this research study is to estimate the future cardiovascular disease risk in pregnant women and their infants. We will use questionnaires, maternal and infant central pulse wave velocity (PWV) which is a measure of arterial stiffness (vascular aging) that predicts cardiovascular disease. This non-invasive instrument is totally safe in pregnancy. By measuring the time it takes for blood leaving your heart to reach your leg with the use of 2 small cuffs, it is able to determine arterial stiffness which is a key component of cardiovascular disease.