Melissa Whitworth is a consultant obstetrician with a specialist interest in clinical research based at St Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children in Manchester. She works together with the specialist midwifery team responsible for the care of teenagers in Manchester to provide care and support throughout pregnancy. She also runs a specialist service looking after women with a BMI>40. She has published on a wide range of topics including preterm labour, pre-pregnancy health and substance misuse in pregnancy. Her main areas of interest are the effects of social deprivation on maternal health and preterm labour.