Bringing Up Baby: Race, Infant Mortality, and the Creation of Prenatal Care (1900–1930)
Official title: Bringing Up Baby: Race, Infant Mortality, and the Creation of Prenatal Care, 1900-1930
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11288897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A history project explores how early 20th century public health, race, and medical professionals shaped the birth care system in America.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $114,043 |
| NIH project number | 1G13LM015076-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11288897 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Researchers, students, historians, and public health professionals interested in the history of prenatal care and infant health.
✕Less likely to help
There is no direct patient treatment involved in this historical project.
What this research studies
This project will examine how infant mortality shaped the emergence of prenatal care in the United States between 1900 and 1930, using historical documents, government studies, and medical journals. The work will connect themes of public health, eugenics, philanthropy, and professional obstetrics to understand why pregnancy care became medically monitored. It will analyze how nationalist and racial politics influenced the call for maternal and infant welfare funding and the professionalization of obstetrics. The final monograph will present a narrative of how Americans came to see pregnancy as a medical condition requiring surveillance and intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could help patients understand the historical roots of prenatal care and why certain medical and public health practices exist today.
How similar studies have gone: Previous historical works have successfully traced the formation of medical specialties and public health policies, though this topic is uniquely tied to prenatal care and race.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Withycombe, Shannon — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Withycombe, Shannon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.