Pre- and post-natal care can improve maternal mental health

Identifying maternal mental health concerns and intervening early can enable providers to address pre- or post-partum depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction in mothers and improve the baby’s overall well-being. Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., repurposed hospital space, opening a 10-bed inpatient unit providing specialized care for women during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Yale New Haven (Conn.) Children’s Hospital implemented a treatment for babies born to mothers addicted to opiates, replacing drug therapy with increased contact with their mothers. Babies spending more time with their mothers left the hospital after an average of 22 days instead of an average of 29 days. An American Hospital Association podcast also discusses how to reduce maternal mental health stigma. (AHA blog article, 5/12/25)