The physical, mental, and behavioral health (and general well-being) of people prior to, during, after, and in-between pregnancy (also known as maternal health) impacts how safe and healthy their pregnancies will be. By addressing risk factors early and optimizing their health prior to pregnancy, people can ensure they stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
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.