Maternal and Child Health Resource Repository

Beth Heinz, senior vice president, Women’s and Children’s Services at Yale New Haven Health, and Cheri Johnson, chief nursing officer, Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., write about how the integration of pre- and postnatal care provides opportunities to assess and treat behavioral health issues in pregnant and postpartum patients, improving outcomes for moms and babies alike. READ MORE   

East Chicago, Ind., teen Nataly Paramó became the first pediatric heart transplant recipient at the Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill.

Across the nation, more and more hospitals and health systems are expanding access to treat the rapidly growing numbers of children and adults in crisis who need mental health services.

One of our best strategies to address the unique behavioral health challenges and demands of pregnant women and new mothers is recognizing that mental health is a central element to physical health, meaning we need to continually treat the whole person in our settings to the best of our abilities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention May 8 released an analysis that found declines in hospitalizations for infants infected with respiratory syncytial virus during the 2024-2025 RSV season.

In observance of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week May 4-10, the Health Resources and Services Administration highlighted its Pediatric Mental Health Care Access program that is available to provide free teleconsultation services for health professionals to help them better care for children and youth with behavioral health concerns.

In an AHA podcast, Women & Infants Hospital's Shannon Sullivan, president and chief operating officer, and Caron Zlotnick, Ph.D., director of behavioral medicine research, discuss the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, the challenges new mothers face and the innovative programs that are having success in maternal well-being and postpartum depression prevention.

Nearly 1 in 10 infants (9.8%) were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in 2023, an increase of 13% from 2016, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were increases from 2016 to 2023 for each maternal age, race and Hispanic-origin group, gestational age and birthweight category, and in most states.    

In this conversation, Women & Infants Hospital's Shannon Sullivan, president and chief operating officer, and Caron Zlotnick, Ph.D., director of behavioral medicine research, discuss the stigma surrounding maternal mental health.

Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., member of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and the bipartisan Maternal Health Caucus, spoke to AHA Annual Meeting attendees May 5 about the threats posed to the Medicaid program, particularly how major cuts under consideration in Congress would threaten access to vital care, including maternal health services.

Speakers from Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and Regional One Health discuss best practices on collecting, evaluating, and transforming data into actionable strategies and how hospitals and health systems can implement data-driven quality and performance improvement strategies to positively impact maternal health outcomes.

The Health Resources and Services Administration announced its toll-free number (1-833-TLC-MAMA) and promotional toolkit are available in advance of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, May 5-11.

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has opened a new Applied Behavior Analysis Clinic in Riverton, Utah, that aims to address the growing need for autism services in the community.

U.S. births grew 1% in 2024 to 3.6 million, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists April 17 released guidance recommending a new approach to prenatal care delivery. The guidance calls for a potential reduction in the standard 12 to 14 in-person visits for pregnant individuals — traditionally scheduled regardless of risk factors — for a more personalized approach.

The Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) is celebrating three decades of groundbreaking research that has significantly improved the health and development of children worldwide.

Hospitals and health systems play a critical role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes throughout the perinatal period. Through the Better Health for Mothers and Babies Initiative, the AHA is catalyzing hospitals’ ongoing commitment to reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes.

The National Institutes of Health April 7 released a study that found twins — smaller at birth on average than singletons — develop slower in early pregnancy than what was previously known. T

Kent Hospital’s Spaulding Rehabilitation teams offer inpatient and outpatient services, caring for patients recovering from sports injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injury, amputations, concussions, Lyme disease, Parkinson’s disease and more.

A National Institutes of Health study published April 2 found that blood pressure patterns observed during the first half of pregnancy can determine a woman's risk of developing hypertension up to 14 years after giving birth. The study found that women showing certain blood pressure patterns during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy were more likely to develop hypertension years later.