In the year following childbirth, many new parents experience a sharp decline in health care access and social support — a phenomenon often described by experts as the “postpartum cliff.” To combat this critical gap in the American healthcare system, the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH) at Georgetown University has launched the Postpartum Systems of Care Repository.

This report presents maternal mortality for 2024 based on data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)

Using data from 37 low- and middle-income countries, this research provides the first evidence that cash transfer programs substantially reduce mortality rates population-wide. This impact is due to better maternal and reproductive health, childhood nutrition, and vaccination rates when households have more resources. 

The 2025 March of Dimes Report Card highlights the many factors contributing to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. For the fourth consecutive year, the United States earned a D+ grade for preterm birth, marking the longest stretch of the lowest grade in Report Card history.

This report from the Rutgers School of Public Health considers Nurture NJ’s indirect effects, looking at the ripple effects of policy.

While Cesarean births can be medically necessary, the procedure has significant health risks. Thus, as part of the Nurture NJ initiative, New Jersey implemented several policies aimed at reducing the number of Cesareans performed without a clear medical need.

Nurture NJ is a comprehensive initiative to improve maternal and infant health outcomes within the state with a focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities. A key strategy in this initiative is the expansion of paid leave benefits.