Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe (MD, FRCOG, FRCPI) is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital Dublin and serves as Head of Women's and Child's Health and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Dublin, having trained at King's College Hospital London and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto. Her EU- and Health Research Board-funded research spans nutrition in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, prenatal ultrasound, and prenatal diagnosis, with her work on low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy recognised at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting in San Francisco. A 2011 study by her team surveyed 621 women and found that 38% were overweight and 21% were obese prior to pregnancy, underscoring her focus on maternal weight and diet as determinants of long-term health for both mother and child. She has also established that moderate exercise during pregnancy reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, while strenuous exercise has been linked to pre-term birth and low birth weight.
- Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe holds the credentials MD, FRCOG, FRCPI, and DCH, and serves as Head of Women's and Child's Health and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCD.
- She completed a fellowship in fetal medicine at King's College Hospital, London, before undertaking maternal and fetal subspecialisation at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
- McAuliffe's research received an award at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting in San Francisco, as noted in the Irish Medical Times on 14th March 2013.
- A 2011 study led by Professor McAuliffe found that pregnant women in Ireland were not maintaining adequate fitness levels during pregnancy.
- Her research team surveyed 621 women and found that 38% were overweight pre-pregnancy and 21% were obese.
- Professor McAuliffe and Ciara McGowan collaborated on research examining the specific dietary and nutritional needs of pregnant women.
- Her research has been funded by grants from both the European Union and the Health Research Board of Ireland.
Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe
MD, FRCOG, FRCPI, DCHProf. Fionnuala Mculiffe
Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe
MD, FRCOG, FRCPI, DCH
Head of Women’s and Child’s Health & Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCD
test Fionnuala McAuliffe is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National Maternity Hospital Dublin. She graduated from UCD and following initial training in Dublin, moved to the UK. At King’s College Hospital, London she did a fellowship in fetal medicine and subsequently undertook maternal and fetal subspecialisation at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Professor McAuliffe then returned to UCD and the National Maternity Hospital where she is a consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and a sub-specialist in maternal and fetal medicine. She is Director of the maternal and fetal medicine subspecialisation programme. She is the Head of Women’s and Child’s Health and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCD.
Research
She has been involved and continues to head up, very important research in areas such as:
- Nutrition in pregnancy
- Diabetes in pregnancy
- Prenatal ultrasound
- Prenatal diagnosis
Professor Fionnuala Mc Auliffe Research
That there are some “fantastic researchers” across the hospital, including Prof. Fionnuala McAuliffe, who has been leading research into low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy and which recently received an award at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting in San Francisco.
Exercise During Pregnancy
In 2011, Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe’s and her team’s research, revealed that pregnant women in Ireland were not keeping fit. It does seem that there are some conflicting views about exercise during pregnancy, however the following statement from the Professor sums up the issue quite well:
“There are significant benefits to mild and moderate exercise while pregnant. However, strenuous exercise during pregnancy should be avoided as it has been linked to pre-term birth and low birth-weight. Regular exercise during pregnancy helps better prepare women for labour and delivery, and may also offer long-term benefits for the baby. Moderate exercise during pregnancy helps reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, less gestational weight gain and less somatic complaints including insomnia and low mood.”
Weight in Pregnancy
Her research in healthy pregnancies has also focused on weight gain during pregnancy. It has also focused on the fact that a number of women are already overweight when they become pregnant. Her research team surveyed 621 women, of which they found that 38% were overweight pre-pregnancy and 21% were obese. If you would like to read more about this just click on the link Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe’s research.
Diet in pregnancy
Prof. Fionnuala McAuliffe and Ciara McGowan studied the importance of diet in pregnancy, honing in on the specific dietary and nutritional needs of pregnant women, to help them achieve the best health for both themselves and their babies. These days the awareness and appreciation of the long-term implications of prenatal nutrition has increased. Both medical practitioners and lay people, understand that prenatal nutrition will go on to affect the health of both the infant and mother long after pregnancy.
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All articles on the blog and website are intended as information only. Please do not consider any of the information provided here as a substitute for medical advice. At all times seek medical advice directly with your own doctor and medical team.
ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
What are Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe's qualifications and titles?
Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe holds the qualifications MD, FRCOG, FRCPI, and DCH. She serves as Head of Women's and Child's Health and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Dublin (UCD), and is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital Dublin.
Where did Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe complete her specialist training in fetal medicine?
Professor McAuliffe completed a fellowship in fetal medicine at King's College Hospital, London, followed by maternal and fetal subspecialisation at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. She subsequently returned to UCD and the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
What are the main research areas of Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe?
Professor McAuliffe's research focuses on nutrition in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, prenatal ultrasound, and prenatal diagnosis. Her work has been supported by grants from both the European Union and the Health Research Board of Ireland.
What are the benefits of moderate exercise during pregnancy according to Professor McAuliffe?
According to Professor McAuliffe, moderate exercise during pregnancy reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, results in less gestational weight gain, and reduces somatic complaints including insomnia and low mood. It also helps better prepare women for labour and delivery and may offer long-term benefits for the baby.
Should pregnant women avoid strenuous exercise?
Professor McAuliffe states that strenuous exercise during pregnancy should be avoided, as it has been linked to pre-term birth and low birth-weight. Mild and moderate exercise, however, carries significant benefits for both mother and baby.
What did Professor McAuliffe's research find about weight in pregnancy?
A survey of 621 women conducted by Professor McAuliffe's research team found that 38% were overweight pre-pregnancy and 21% were obese. Her research has also focused on weight gain during pregnancy in women who are already overweight when they conceive.
What recognition did Professor McAuliffe's research into low glycaemic index diet receive?
Professor McAuliffe's research into low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy received an award at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting in San Francisco. This was noted by Dr. Rhona Mahony, then Master of the National Maternity Hospital, in a feature in the Irish Medical Times on 14th March 2013.
Who did Professor McAuliffe collaborate with on diet and nutrition research in pregnancy?
Professor McAuliffe collaborated with Ciara McGowan to study the importance of diet in pregnancy, focusing on the specific dietary and nutritional needs of pregnant women. Their work examined how prenatal nutrition affects the long-term health of both the infant and the mother.