Mothers & Babies Program - Northwestern

Congratulations, Ada!

Black mothers and babies continue to face stark inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes in the U.S. It’s time to raise awareness, support evidence‑based interventions, and work toward systems that ensure healthy pregnancies and postpartum care for all.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month 💙
Supporting parent’s mental health and well-being is a critical part of prevention. When caregivers are supported, children are safer and stronger.

This Black History Month, we honor the resilience and leadership of Black parents, and we raise awareness of Black maternal mental health.

Black women in the U.S. are more than 3 times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women. Beyond mortality, disparities extend into mental health, with black women being nearly twice as likely to experience maternal mental health conditions, yet significantly less likely to receive treatment.

This month and every month, we support Black maternal voices and advocate for equitable care before, during, and long after birth.

We’re excited to share that our research team has published a new article in Archives of Women’s Mental Health! 🎉
The study, “Perinatal depression screening and diagnosis: Identifying opportunities to improve optimal care,” examines disparities in screening and diagnosis of perinatal depression and highlights key areas for improving care for mothers and families.
📖 To read the full open-access article here, check out the link in our bio!

From all of us here at Team Mothers and Babies!

MB team members, Darius Tandon and Alicia Diebold, met with collaborators at The George Institute for Global Health in Delhi, India this week to work on a pilot project for an adapted version of MB.

Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has served more than 40 million children and their families. Grounded in equity and inclusion, Head Start’s mission is to give every child, no matter their background, an equal opportunity to thrive.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
1 in 4 women experience pregnancy or infant loss. If you are going through this, or supporting someone who is- you are not alone.

If someone in your life is grieving, here are a few ways to support them:

• Help with everyday tasks (meals, errands, childcare)
• Sit with them and listen
• If they are open to it, help them find a support group or professional resources.

Our Mothers & Babies (MB) Team will be presenting at the upcoming Marce: Prevention of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders Salon on The Implementation of Prevention Initiatives.
•
Link(also in bio): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m4s9dXOERHWWaKZ27zfEJw #/registration

Know your body, get screened, and encourage others to do the same. Early detection saves lives, and awareness is the first step.

Exciting news! 🎉 Katherine Czech, a former MB team member and clinical psychology student intern, just published an article on unplanned pregnancy and perinatal depression in low-income, racially diverse populations. Swipe to get a closer look!
Here is the link: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-025-08009-w