Consumer Health Minute: Maternal Health

Posted by Carolyn Martin on May 4th, 2026 Posted in: Consumer Health, Consumer Health Minute
Tags: Birthing, Maternal Health, parenting, Pregnancy

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We celebrate both mothers and expectant mothers in May. Being pregnant can be a very joyous event, anticipating the birth of a child. This may be the first child and being pregnant and preparing for the birth can be both exciting and a bit anxiety ridden. What free information resources can your library or organization offer? Here are just a few.

Maternal Health Resources

MedlinePlus
This consumer health resource by the National Library of Medicine, includes a whole category on Pregnancy and Reproduction. Specific topics are listed alphabetically that include:

• Birth Weight
• Childbirth
• Diabetes and Pregnancy
• Prenatal Testing
• Postpartum Care
• Postpartum Depression
• Miscarriage
• Premature Babies

Every Stage Health
The information on Every Stage Health is developed by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), the nation’s leading membership organization for ob-gyns. Pregnancy and topics related to pregnancy are covered. You’ll also find additionally related topics in the A-Z listing.

HealthyChildren.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics developed this website for parents and caregivers. Information is available in Ages and Stages including Prenatal, Baby, all the way to Young Adult.

HRSA
The Health Resources and Services Administration has services to offer your patrons who are expecting or have babies.

• Healthy Start is comprised of HRSA funded community based organizations that provides services for pregnant women and their babies that provide services and links to resources like transportation, education, or housing assistance. Use the link to find a local Healthy State site.
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is staffed by trained counselors who are available 24/7 by phone, text, or chat to provide confidential support.
• Home Visits for Moms and Children is a voluntary, free service for pregnant women and families with young children. Local programs provide voluntary ongoing home visits from nurses or counselors to provide support, education, and resources to promote the well-being of young families. Use the link to find a home visiting program

Office on Women’s Health
The Office on Women’s Health includes information on topics related to maternal health including:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Mental Health (including postpartum depression)

The link to each topic may include fact sheets, infographics, infocards, guides, and videos.

Teen Pregnancy

Of course teens can use the resources already listed but here are a couple that are specifically written for teens.

Nemour’s Teen Health
The Kids Health website also includes information for parents, educators and teens. They have information written for teens. Another bonus is the information is available in audio, Spanish and audio in Spanish. Having a Healthy Pregnancy includes information about prenatal care, emotional health, and school.

Center for Young Women’s Health
This resource is a collaboration between the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and the Division of Gynecology at Boston Children’s Hospital. The Center is an educational entity that exists to provide adolescents of all genders with carefully researched health information, health education programs, and community spaces. Several topics are related to pregnancy but the Pregnancy: General Information is a good place to start. You’ll notice related links to the right side of the screen, similar to MedlinePlus. Information is also available in Spanish. The Young Men’s Health website has information about becoming a father.