Reproductive Health

Maternal and Infant Health

Safe motherhood begins before conception with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. It continues with appropriate prenatal care and preventing problems if they arise. The ideal result is a full-term pregnancy without unnecessary interventions, the delivery of a healthy baby, and a healthy postpartum period in a positive environment that supports the physical and emotional needs of the mother, baby, and family.

Pregnancy and childbirth have a huge impact on the physical, mental, emotional, and socioeconomic health of women and their families. Pregnancy-related health outcomes are influenced by a woman's health and other factors like race, ethnicity, age, and income. CDC's Division of Reproductive Health conducts research and supports programs to improve women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy to reduce both short- and long-term problems. CDC collaborates with partners to reduce the higher rates of poor outcomes experienced by some racial and ethnic groups, to improve the pregnancy and delivery experiences of all women. Our goal is to help ensure that all women have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Featured Topics

3 pregnant women Pregnancy Complications
Problems during pregnancy may include physical and psychological conditions that negatively affect the health of the mother or the baby.

Quit Smoking phone number Tobacco Use and Pregnancy
Quitting smoking can be hard, but it is one of the best ways a woman can protect herself and her baby's health.

Image of baby's hand in adult's hand Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is the birth of a baby at least 3 weeks before the due date. Being born early is the greatest risk factor for infant death.

Toy bear icon SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
SIDS is defined as the sudden death of a baby less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation.

3 women Postpartum Depression
Many women experience depression. Trying to get pregnant, being pregnant, or the birth or loss of a baby can increase the risk for depression.

Pregnant woman. Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
These webinars are intended to help PQCs share knowledge and experiences, and to teach other states how to start, maintain, and grow their own collaboratives.

Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnant belly with hands making a heart

If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you probably have a lot of questions. This Web page will help you learn how to be healthy (before, during, and after pregnancy) and give your baby a healthy start to life.

Healthy Baby

Three babies image

Learn more about how to help keep you and your baby healthy and safe, as well as learn about certain birth defects and medical conditions.

Resources

Healthy People 2020 Improving the well-being of mothers, infants, and children is an important public health goal for the United States.
National Library of Medicine Conduct a search for more information about maternal and infant health and other health topics.
Toward Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy III This medical resource for health care professionals explores the elements that are essential to improving quality, safety, and performance across the continuum of perinatal care.
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) AMCHP provides leadership on issues affecting the health of women and children. Members include directors of maternal and child health programs, directors of programs for children with special health care needs, adolescent health coordinators, and other public health leaders. Members of this national nonprofit organization also include academic, advocacy, and community-based family health professionals, and families.
CityMatch This is a national membership organization of city and county health departments' maternal and child health (MCH) programs and leaders representing urban communities in the United States.
Maternal Child Health (MCH) Library at Georgetown University This offers a variety of electronic resources, including the MCH Alert, knowledge paths, databases, and other materials developed for health professionals, policy makers, and families. The MCH Library is located at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University.

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
A surveillance project of the CDC and state health departments, PRAMS collects state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program (MCHEP)
The MCHEP mission is to promote and improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families by building MCH epidemiology and data capacity at the state, local, and tribal levels.