The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that Ohio had 7.11 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, making it one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country.

With prenatal and postpartum maternal health being closely linked to infant health and survival, it’s important for mothers, and their support units, to understand how to best care for themselves. Read about the most pressing maternal and infant health topics from the CDC, including:

• Common pregnancy complications and how to reduce risk 
• Diabetes and gestational diabetes facts for pregnancy
• Data and recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy
• Health effects of substance use during pregnancy
• Prenatal and postpartum depressions symptoms and resources
• Preterm birth risk factors and prevention
• Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Local Programs to Assist Prenatal & Parental Care

If you live in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area, there are many local programs to help educate and guide parents through the prenatal and newborn stages. You can join these groups as a new parent or if you already have multiple children.

Moms2B

Moms2B was established by Ohio State to reduce infant mortality in Ohio by improving the health of at-risk communities. To “empower pregnant women to deliver full-term, healthy babies,” the Moms2B program offers weekly prenatal educational sessions on topics such as breastfeeding, child development, family planning, labor and delivery, maternal-infant health, safe sleep and more.

The education sessions are free to attend on-site, with free childcare and a warm, healthy meal provided. Women who attend the sessions can also connect with other moms in their community to build a local support system.

Dads2B

Dads2B, in partnership with Moms2B and part of the Urban Family Development Center (UFDC), offers free educational sessions for partners of pregnant women and moms. These sessions teach fathers, and soon-to-be fathers, about maternal and infant health as well as positive family structure. In addition to sessions about safe sleep and how to take care of a baby when they come home, Dads2B teaches fathers how to support their partners during pregnancy for better maternal and infant health outcomes.

For more resources, please email your questions to an LHI librarian at health-info@osu.edu, or call us at (614) 293-3707. All information is free and confidential.

The Library for Health Information is here for you. To find out more, visit the LHI webpage.