"Greater social support can be seen at the biological level. Psychosocial improvements make large differences in outcomes."

"We need a Life Course and Intersectional Perspective during pregnancy."

Toxic stress must be addressed during pregnancy; doulas, family supports, sleep, physical activity, decompression time, identification of expectations, intentionally reflecting on becoming a parent (especially for persons who experienced a difficult childhood), and acknowledging spiritual and religious connections. The AAP has begun to take toxic stress seriously, it's time for ACOG to do so as well.

• Caesarean Delivery is 3.5% higher in persons with a mental health diagnosis
• Maternal Mortality is 3 times higher in persons with a mental health diagnosis at the time of delivery

"We need to integrate maternal mental health in our care continuum. We need to create safe spaces for women to share their stories". -Deb Kilday, HHS

The Department of Health and Human Services aims to improve support for women and their families during the postpartum period by assisting efforts to increase the quality of postpartum care, including increasing rates of screening and treatment for risk factors and complications including, but not limited to, intimate partner violence, behavioral health conditions including postpartum depression, and substance use disorder (SUD) that can have an in impact on both the health of mothers and their newborn children.