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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Maternal and Infant Health

    Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. By ensuring that women get high-quality care during and after pregnancy, infants can get a healthy start to life.

    The physical and mental health, and overall well-being of women before, during, and after pregnancy impacts the health and safety of their pregnancies. By addressing risk factors early and optimizing their health before pregnancy, women can ensure they stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

    Not feeling like yourself? New moms can experience mental health challenges during or after pregnancy. You are not alone! Help and support are available.

    Baby blues or something more?

    Your feelings are not uncommon. Approximately 1 in 5 new moms experience mental health challenges during or after pregnancy.

    Get info about postpartum depression

    Not feeling like yourself? Chat with someone.

    You are not alone! Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA. Services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

    Call or text now and talk with a trained counselor

    Maternal Health Impact

    While it's called maternal health, it extends beyond the health of a mom. The physical and mental health of moms can have long-term effects on their kids, families, and communities. Learn about the impacts on each and the partnerships that DOH has established to help the health of Pennsylvania moms. 

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    Maternal health has significant impacts on infant health. Healthy pregnancies are linked with improved growth and development in childhood, and better physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes throughout the child’s lifespan. Healthy pregnancies also reduce barriers to forming strong parent-infant bonds, which support healthy child development and family stability.

    Communities are strengthened when all birthing individuals and their infants have the same chance for a healthy life. Historical racism, social and economic stressors, neighborhood conditions, zip code, and other social determinants of health continue to contribute to disparately poor maternal and infant health outcomes for Black families throughout the United States. When mothers and babies thrive, their families thrive; when families thrive, their communities thrive; and when communities thrive, the Commonwealth thrives.

    The Divisions of Child and Adult Health Services and Maternal Health Services, located within the Bureau of Family Health, partner with community-based organizations, local health departments, hospital systems, academia, and others to improve infant and maternal health outcomes throughout Pennsylvania. Many of these partnerships help promote the development, availability, and use of trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and community-driven strategies to address root causes of preventable infant and pregnancy-associated mortality, particularly where there are disparities.

    To Support Pennsylvania Mothers, Shapiro Administration Calls for Universal Postpartum Depression Screenings, Faster Mental Health Referrals

    Governor Shapiro’s budget seeks to improve the health of mothers and babies by implementing universal postpartum depression screenings throughout the Commonwealth.

    • The Governor’s 2025-2026 budget proposal provides $5 million to fund maternal health initiatives, including identifying and addressing postpartum depression and anxiety. 
    • The proposal directs DOH to prepare doctors and nurses to identify signs of postpartum mood disorders more quickly and speed up referrals to mental health professionals and other resources.
    Moms matter. I think it's essential that we give moms the opportunity to determine if they're experiencing more than Baby Blues. 

    – Ta’lor Pinkston, Western Pennsylvania mom

    Ta’lor Pinkston, a Western Pennsylvania mom, discusses the importance of postpartum depression screenings