Associated with: Large for gestational age (LGA), maternal diabetes mellitus (T2DM), possible adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in the offspring.

• The rise in diabetes and obesity is driving a significant increase in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) cases. This poses a serious health concern for women, as GDM significantly elevates the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• Approximately half of women diagnosed with GDM will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years after giving birth. This highlights the importance of postpartum monitoring and lifestyle interventions for these women.

• A GDM diagnosis carries a lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes as high as 60%. This emphasizes the long-term health implications of GDM and the need for ongoing management.

• In 2017, an estimated 204 million women aged 20-79 years were living with diabetes; this number is projected to increase to 308 million by 2045. This statistic underscores the magnitude of the problem and the urgent need for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

• Hopeful Interventions: Programs like GrowBaby Health have demonstrated remarkable success in reducing gestational diabetes mellitus rates to <1%, offering a beacon of hope and a model for preventative care.

Associated with: increased rate of maternal morbidities: seizures, stroke, kidney injury, increased SGA and PTB <34 weeks, and increased perinatal deaths.

• Sadly, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) contributes to 14% of all maternal deaths. This highlights how crucial it is to monitor blood pressure and manage any elevations proactively and effectively.

• Non-Hispanic Black women face a higher risk of developing gestational hypertensive diseases, emphasizing the need for attentive care and potential preventative measures within this population.

• In the US, gestational hypertensive disorders affect roughly 3-14% of pregnancies. This range reflects variations in risk factors and healthcare access across different communities.

• Hopeful Interventions: Programs like GrowBaby Health have demonstrated remarkable success in reducing gestational hypertensive disorder rates to <1%, offering a beacon of hope and a model for preventative care.

Stress is a part of life, yet left unmanaged & without proper support it is associated with adverse outcomes in both mother & baby.

Many women and mothers have experienced past traumas (ACEs) in their childhood and upbringing. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common. In fact, women are 50% more likely than men to have a >5 ACES score. Yet, often there are no solutions given for HOW to manage this history. GrowBaby Health addresses this aspect of a mother’s history from the very beginning of their care.

High ACEs associated with: preterm birth, obesity, heart disease, depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse

Postpartum Anxiety/Depression (PPD) is associated with: preterm birth and small for gestational age. PPD affects 15-20% of all pregnancies, but it can often start in pregnancy.

Preterm birth carries significant risks and consequences:

• Health Impacts for Babies: Preterm birth can lead to long-term health problems for babies, including developmental challenges, increased risk of coronary heart disease in males, higher blood pressure in females, and unhealthy cholesterol levels in males. Sadly, it also contributes to perinatal mortality.

• Increased Risk of Small Size: Babies born prematurely have a higher chance of being too small (small for gestational age or SGA), which can cause further health complications.

• Health Disparities: Preterm birth disproportionately affects women of color and those with lower socioeconomic status, highlighting the urgent need to address health inequities.

• Alarming Rates: In the US, the overall preterm birth rate is 10.8%, but this number can soar to 22% in certain populations, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.

• Hopeful Interventions: Programs like GrowBaby Health have demonstrated remarkable success in reducing preterm birth rates to below 2.0%, offering a beacon of hope and a model for preventative care.

*Click below to read the study

Being born small for gestational age (SGA) means a baby's birth weight is lower than expected for their gestational age. This can have lasting impacts on their health and development:

• Metabolic Concerns: SGA babies are at a higher risk of developing conditions like unhealthy cholesterol levels (dyslipidemias), high blood pressure (hypertension), unhealthy body fat distribution, and type 2 diabetes later in life.

• Developmental Challenges: SGA can also impact a child's development, and may have association with learning delays and lower test scores in early childhood.

• Short and Long-Term Risks: It's important to understand that SGA is linked to an increased risk of both immediate and long-term health problems, requiring careful monitoring and support.

• Prevalence in the US: In the United States, approximately 11% of babies are born SGA, highlighting the significance of this issue.

• Hopeful Interventions: Programs like GrowBaby Health have demonstrated remarkable success in reducing small for gestational age rates to 1.5%, offering a beacon of hope and a model for preventative care.

Babies born large for gestational age (LGA) have a birth weight higher than expected for their gestational age. While it might seem like a good thing for a baby to be bigger, LGA is actually associated with some potential health concerns:

• Increased Risk of Health Issues: LGA babies have a higher risk of developing conditions like asthma, diabetes, becoming overweight or obese, metabolic syndrome, and even certain cancers like breast and colorectal cancer later in life.

• Maternal Body Composition as a Key Factor: Interestingly, a mother's weight (>BMI) before and during pregnancy plays a significant role. Elevated maternal BMI is a stronger predictor of LGA infants than high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) during pregnancy.

• Growing Concern - close to half of the overall adult U.S. population will have obesity and about a quarter will have severe obesity by 2030. Since body composition and fetal weight are correlated, the prevalence of LGA babies is likely to increase, raising concerns about long-term health outcomes.

• Current Rates: In the US, the rate of LGA births is currently 12.3%, highlighting the importance of addressing this growing trend.