![Rebecca Milton](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3613?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I am a Research Associate / Trial Manager at the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) working on two research studies and a PhD in global maternal and neonatal health.
My current projects:
The POOL Study which is a study looking to establish the safety of waterbirths, this is led by School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University and is based in the UK across 26 NHS sites.
SIMCA a study exploring at the factors influencing the implementation of the Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) model of care in England: a mixed method cross-case analysis.
Some of my previous work include:
STEADFAST a research study looking at education outcomes in young people with diabetes: innovative involvement and governance to support public trust.
PAN-COVID is a global registry led by Imperial College London, aiming to evaluate the association of suspected COVID-19 and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in women in pregnancy with: 1. Miscarriage, 2. Fetal growth restriction and stillbirth, 3. Pre-term delivery and 4. Vertical transmission
FEMUR III is definitive randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of a community-based rehabilitation package following hip fracture led by Liverpool University, CTR oversee three NHS sites in South Wales.
Incidence and determinants of stillbirth in Nigeria a feasibility study funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund.
BARNARDS (Burden of Antibiotic Resistance in Neonates from Developing Societies) which was led by Cardiff University and was a global study aiming to determine the incidence of sepsis in neonates from seven low- and middle income countries as well as to understand the burden of antibiotic resistance which was funded by The Gates Foundation.
Publication
2025
- Sanders, J. et al. 2025. Authors' Reply. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 132(2), pp. 226-227. (10.1111/1471-0528.17960)
2024
- Sanders, J. et al. 2024. Maternal and neonatal outcomes among spontaneous vaginal births occurring in or out of water following intrapartum water immersion: The POOL cohort study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 131(12), pp. 1650-1659. (10.1111/1471-0528.17878)
- Middlemiss, A. L. et al. 2024. Barriers and facilitators when implementing midwifery continuity of carer: a narrative analysis of the international literature. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 24(1), article number: 540. (10.1186/s12884-024-06649-y)
- Nieto-Rosado, M. et al. 2024. Colonisation of hospital surfaces from low- and middle-income countries by extended spectrum β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria. Nature Communications 15, article number: 2758. (10.1038/s41467-024-46684-z)
- Portal, E. A. R. et al. 2024. Characterisation of colistin resistance in Gram-negative microbiota of pregnant women and neonates in Nigeria. Nature Communications 15(1), article number: 2302. (10.1038/s41467-024-45673-6)
2023
- Naha, S. et al. 2023. Carriage and within-host diversity of mcr-1.1-harboring Escherichia coli from pregnant mothers: inter- and intra-mother transmission dynamics of mcr-1.1. Emerging Microbes & Infections 12, article number: 2278899. (10.1080/22221751.2023.2278899)
- Lugg-Widger, F. et al. 2023. The practicalities of adapting UK maternity clinical information systems for observational research: Experiences of the POOL study. International Journal of Population Data Science 8(1), article number: 18. (10.23889/ijpds.v8i1.2072.)
2022
- Carvalho, M. J. et al. 2022. Antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiota of mothers and linked neonates with or without sepsis from low- and middle-income countries. Nature Microbiology 7, pp. 1337-1347. (10.1038/s41564-022-01184-y)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Incidence and sociodemographic, living environment and maternal health associations with stillbirth in a tertiary healthcare setting in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Short title: Incidence and factors associated with stillbirth in Kano, Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22, article number: 692. (10.1186/s12884-022-04971-x)
- Mullins, E. et al. 2022. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: The PAN-COVID study. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 276, pp. 161-167. (10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.010)
- Sands, K. et al. 2022. Characterisation of Staphylococci species from neonatal blood cultures in low- and middle-income countries. BMC Infectious Diseases 22(1), article number: 593. (10.1186/s12879-022-07541-w)
- Iregbu, K. et al. 2022. Global health systems' data science approach for precision diagnosis of sepsis in early life. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 22(5), pp. E143-E152. (10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00645-9)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Neonatal sepsis and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries from a facility-based birth cohort: an international multisite prospective observational study. The Lancet Global Health 10(5), pp. e661-e672. (10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00043-2)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Determinants of stillbirth from two observational studies investigating deliveries in Kano, Nigeria. Frontiers in Global Women's Health 2, article number: 788157. (10.3389/fgwh.2021.788157)
- Cannings-John, R., Gale, C., Lugg-Widger, F. V., Milton, R., Robling, M. and Sanders, J. 2022. Protocol and statistical analysis plan for the POOL study: establishing the safety of waterbirth for mothers and babies: a cohort study with nested qualitative component. British Medical Journal
2021
- Milton, R. et al. 2021. A qualitative focus group study concerning perceptions and experiences of Nigerian mothers on stillbirths. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21(1), article number: 830. (10.1186/s12884-021-04207-4)
- Thomson, K. M. et al. 2021. Effects of antibiotic resistance, drug target attainment, bacterial pathogenicity and virulence, and antibiotic access and affordability on outcomes in neonatal sepsis: an international microbiology and drug evaluation prospective substudy (BARNARDS). The Lancet Infectious Diseases 21(12), pp. 1677-1688. (10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00050-5)
- Solomon, S. et al. 2021. Prevalence and risk factors for antimicrobial resistance among newborns with gram-negative sepsis. PLoS ONE 16(8), article number: e0255410. (10.1371/journal.pone.0255410)
- Sands, K. et al. 2021. Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Gram-negative bacteria that cause neonatal sepsis in seven low and middle-income countries. Nature Microbiology 6, pp. 512–523. (10.1038/s41564-021-00870-7)
- Milton, R. et al. 2021. Establishing the safety of waterbirth for mothers and babies: a cohort study with nested qualitative component: The protocol for the POOL study.. BMJ Open 11(1), article number: e040684. (10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040684)
2020
- Milosevic, S., Channon, S., Hughes, J., Hunter, B., Nolan, M., Milton, R. and Sanders, J. 2020. Factors influencing water immersion during labour: qualitative case studies of six maternity units in the United Kingdom. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 20(1), article number: 719. (10.1186/s12884-020-03416-7)
- Hopkinson, J., King, A., Courtier, N., Milton, R. and Elias, J. 2020. Potential for identification of memory problems in the cancer clinic to enable improved treatment experience and outcomes: mixed methods case study research. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 48, article number: 101777. (10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101777)
2019
- Milosevic, S. et al. 2019. Factors influencing the use of birth pools in the United Kingdom: Perspectives of women, midwives and medical staff. Midwifery 79, article number: 102554. (10.1016/j.midw.2019.102554)
2016
- Hopkinson, J. B., Milton, R., King, A. and Edwards, D. 2016. People with dementia: what is known about their experience of cancer treatment and cancer treatment outcomes? A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology 25(10), pp. 1137 -1146. (10.1002/pon.4185)
- Courtier, N., Milton, R., King, A., Tope, R., Morgan, S. and Hopkinson, J. 2016. Cancer and dementia: an exploratory study of the experience of cancer treatment in people with dementia. Psycho-Oncology 25(9), pp. 1079-1084. (10.1002/pon.4212)
- King, A., Hopkinson, J. B. and Milton, R. 2016. Reflections of a team approach to involving people with dementia in research. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 22(1), pp. 372-377. (10.12968/ijpn.2016.22.1.22)
Erthyglau
- Sanders, J. et al. 2025. Authors' Reply. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 132(2), pp. 226-227. (10.1111/1471-0528.17960)
- Sanders, J. et al. 2024. Maternal and neonatal outcomes among spontaneous vaginal births occurring in or out of water following intrapartum water immersion: The POOL cohort study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 131(12), pp. 1650-1659. (10.1111/1471-0528.17878)
- Middlemiss, A. L. et al. 2024. Barriers and facilitators when implementing midwifery continuity of carer: a narrative analysis of the international literature. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 24(1), article number: 540. (10.1186/s12884-024-06649-y)
- Nieto-Rosado, M. et al. 2024. Colonisation of hospital surfaces from low- and middle-income countries by extended spectrum β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria. Nature Communications 15, article number: 2758. (10.1038/s41467-024-46684-z)
- Portal, E. A. R. et al. 2024. Characterisation of colistin resistance in Gram-negative microbiota of pregnant women and neonates in Nigeria. Nature Communications 15(1), article number: 2302. (10.1038/s41467-024-45673-6)
- Naha, S. et al. 2023. Carriage and within-host diversity of mcr-1.1-harboring Escherichia coli from pregnant mothers: inter- and intra-mother transmission dynamics of mcr-1.1. Emerging Microbes & Infections 12, article number: 2278899. (10.1080/22221751.2023.2278899)
- Lugg-Widger, F. et al. 2023. The practicalities of adapting UK maternity clinical information systems for observational research: Experiences of the POOL study. International Journal of Population Data Science 8(1), article number: 18. (10.23889/ijpds.v8i1.2072.)
- Carvalho, M. J. et al. 2022. Antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiota of mothers and linked neonates with or without sepsis from low- and middle-income countries. Nature Microbiology 7, pp. 1337-1347. (10.1038/s41564-022-01184-y)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Incidence and sociodemographic, living environment and maternal health associations with stillbirth in a tertiary healthcare setting in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Short title: Incidence and factors associated with stillbirth in Kano, Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22, article number: 692. (10.1186/s12884-022-04971-x)
- Mullins, E. et al. 2022. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: The PAN-COVID study. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 276, pp. 161-167. (10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.010)
- Sands, K. et al. 2022. Characterisation of Staphylococci species from neonatal blood cultures in low- and middle-income countries. BMC Infectious Diseases 22(1), article number: 593. (10.1186/s12879-022-07541-w)
- Iregbu, K. et al. 2022. Global health systems' data science approach for precision diagnosis of sepsis in early life. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 22(5), pp. E143-E152. (10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00645-9)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Neonatal sepsis and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries from a facility-based birth cohort: an international multisite prospective observational study. The Lancet Global Health 10(5), pp. e661-e672. (10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00043-2)
- Milton, R. et al. 2022. Determinants of stillbirth from two observational studies investigating deliveries in Kano, Nigeria. Frontiers in Global Women's Health 2, article number: 788157. (10.3389/fgwh.2021.788157)
- Cannings-John, R., Gale, C., Lugg-Widger, F. V., Milton, R., Robling, M. and Sanders, J. 2022. Protocol and statistical analysis plan for the POOL study: establishing the safety of waterbirth for mothers and babies: a cohort study with nested qualitative component. British Medical Journal
- Milton, R. et al. 2021. A qualitative focus group study concerning perceptions and experiences of Nigerian mothers on stillbirths. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21(1), article number: 830. (10.1186/s12884-021-04207-4)
- Thomson, K. M. et al. 2021. Effects of antibiotic resistance, drug target attainment, bacterial pathogenicity and virulence, and antibiotic access and affordability on outcomes in neonatal sepsis: an international microbiology and drug evaluation prospective substudy (BARNARDS). The Lancet Infectious Diseases 21(12), pp. 1677-1688. (10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00050-5)
- Solomon, S. et al. 2021. Prevalence and risk factors for antimicrobial resistance among newborns with gram-negative sepsis. PLoS ONE 16(8), article number: e0255410. (10.1371/journal.pone.0255410)
- Sands, K. et al. 2021. Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Gram-negative bacteria that cause neonatal sepsis in seven low and middle-income countries. Nature Microbiology 6, pp. 512–523. (10.1038/s41564-021-00870-7)
- Milton, R. et al. 2021. Establishing the safety of waterbirth for mothers and babies: a cohort study with nested qualitative component: The protocol for the POOL study.. BMJ Open 11(1), article number: e040684. (10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040684)
- Milosevic, S., Channon, S., Hughes, J., Hunter, B., Nolan, M., Milton, R. and Sanders, J. 2020. Factors influencing water immersion during labour: qualitative case studies of six maternity units in the United Kingdom. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 20(1), article number: 719. (10.1186/s12884-020-03416-7)
- Hopkinson, J., King, A., Courtier, N., Milton, R. and Elias, J. 2020. Potential for identification of memory problems in the cancer clinic to enable improved treatment experience and outcomes: mixed methods case study research. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 48, article number: 101777. (10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101777)
- Milosevic, S. et al. 2019. Factors influencing the use of birth pools in the United Kingdom: Perspectives of women, midwives and medical staff. Midwifery 79, article number: 102554. (10.1016/j.midw.2019.102554)
- Hopkinson, J. B., Milton, R., King, A. and Edwards, D. 2016. People with dementia: what is known about their experience of cancer treatment and cancer treatment outcomes? A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology 25(10), pp. 1137 -1146. (10.1002/pon.4185)
- Courtier, N., Milton, R., King, A., Tope, R., Morgan, S. and Hopkinson, J. 2016. Cancer and dementia: an exploratory study of the experience of cancer treatment in people with dementia. Psycho-Oncology 25(9), pp. 1079-1084. (10.1002/pon.4212)
- King, A., Hopkinson, J. B. and Milton, R. 2016. Reflections of a team approach to involving people with dementia in research. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 22(1), pp. 372-377. (10.12968/ijpn.2016.22.1.22)
Research
My current research study commitments:
The POOL Study which is a study looking to establish the safety of waterbirths, this is led by School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University and is based in the UK across 26 NHS sites.
SIMCA a study exploring at the factors influencing the implementation of the Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) model of care in England: a mixed method cross-case analysis.
My personal research interests:
I am currently working on my PhD by publication focusing on maternal and neonatal global health, with particular interest in working in low- and middle income countries.
I developed an animation presenting findings from a feasibility study looking at Incience and Determinants of Stillbirth in Nigeria.
Biography
Education and Qualifications:
- 2016: PRINCE II – Project Management
- 2013: MPH; Cardiff University
- 2013: Bsc Nutrition, Physical Activity and Community Health; University of Glamorgan
- 2010: Institute of Leadership and Management, Leading and Managing Teams
Grants:
- Co-applicant: SIMCA: Factors influencing the implementation of the Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) model of care in England: a mixed method cross-case analysis.
- Lead applicant: Network award for GCRF dissemination (Incidence and risk factors of stillbirth in Nigeria) (GCRF)
- Co-applicant: BARNARDS: Burden of Antibiotic Resistance in Neonates from developing societies (Bill & Melinda Gates) and Incidence and risk factors of stillbirth in Northern Nigeria (Kano) (GCRF)
Honours and awards
- February 2020: GW4 Early Career Symposia Scheme (AMR)
- April 2019: Outstanding contribution to international work through the Cardiff University MEDIC Star Awards.
Professional memberships
- UK Trial Managers Network (UKTMN)
- NIHR-MRC Trials Methodology Research Partnership Global Health Working Group Member
Academic positions
- 2018 - present: Research Assoicate / Trial Manager: CTR
- 2015-2018: Project Manager: BARNARDS, Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University
- 2014-2015: Research Assistant: Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2010-2015: Project Assistant: MITReG, Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University
