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.

Please note that this Web site does not provide specific information about pregnancy, such as the stages of a healthy pregnancy, the common changes that occur in a woman's body during pregnancy, or the stages or types of delivery. This type of information is available from other sources, which are listed on the Additional Resources page.

The NICHD also 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
• Miscarriage and Stillbirth
• Preterm Labor and Premature Birth
• Disorders of Pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Preeclampsia, and Eclampsia)
• Breastfeeding
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• Other Topics in Pregnancy and Birth Research