Research on Pregnancy and Birth

A major part of the mission of the NICHD is to make sure that women suffer no harmful effects from reproductive processes, including pregnancy. Having a healthy pregnancy is one of the best ways to promote a healthy birth.

But, even if a woman follows all of her health care provider's recommendations, sometimes problems arise during pregnancy. These problems can affect the mother, the fetus, or both, to different degrees.

Since it was founded in 1962, the NICHD has been committed to understanding all the different facets of pregnancy and birth, to help mothers and babies stay healthy. NICHD-supported research also develops and evaluates different ways of preventing and treating problems related to pregnancy and birth.

The NICHD does not offer advice about specific aspects of care for pregnant women, such as nutrition or physical activity suggestions. If you have specific questions related to pregnancy or birth, you should talk to your health care provider.

Some of the Institute's efforts and accomplishments in this research area include:

• Care Before and During Pregnancy--Prenatal Care



• Breastfeeding



• Preterm Labor and Premature Birth



• Disorders of Pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Preeclampsia, and Eclampsia)



• Miscarriage and Stillbirth



• Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities



• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)



• Other Topics in Pregnancy and Birth Research

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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)