Understanding Postpartum PTSD and its Effects on Mothers and Babies
Official title: Defining postpartum PTSD and its implications for maternal wellness and child development
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11136469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to better understand childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) and how it affects new mothers and their infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $674,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108619-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are pregnant women in their third trimester who are willing to be followed through their postpartum year, along with their infants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or are beyond the postpartum period would not directly benefit from participating in this specific observation.
What this research studies
We are conducting a special long-term observation to learn more about childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD), a condition that many women experience after giving birth but often goes unnoticed. We will follow pregnant women from their third trimester, through delivery, and for a full year postpartum, checking in at several key times. We will also observe their babies at 6 and 12 months to see how the mother's experience might influence early child development. Our goal is to uncover the risk factors for CB-PTSD and understand its impact on the bond between mother and baby.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier identification and better support for mothers experiencing CB-PTSD, improving outcomes for both mothers and their children.
How similar studies have gone: This is described as a first-of-its-kind longitudinal prospective study, aiming to fill a significant gap in understanding CB-PTSD.
Where this research is happening
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dekel, Sharon — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dekel, Sharon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Defining postpartum PTSD and its impact on new mothers and their babies
A long-term study follows pregnant women and their babies to better understand postpartum PTSD and how it affects mothers and child development.
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Postpartum PTSD: effects on mothers and early infant development
This project follows pregnant people from late pregnancy through the first year after birth to learn how childbirth-related PTSD affects moms and their babies.
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Understanding postpartum PTSD and its effects on mothers and children
This study is looking at how postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) affects new moms and their babies, by checking in with pregnant women in their last trimester and then following them and their little ones during the first year after birth to see how they’re doing and what might help.
-
Understanding postpartum PTSD and its effects on mothers and children
This study is looking at how postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder affects new moms and their babies, by following pregnant women in their last trimester and checking in with them during their baby's first year to see how they're doing and bonding together, so we can find ways to help families who might be strugglin
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Wearable tech to track blood loss during childbirth
A wearable device monitors cardiovascular signals to detect postpartum hemorrhage early so clinicians can act quickly to protect mothers.
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HIV treatment and postpartum weight help after birth in South Africa
A small, patient-friendly study is testing a lay health worker–led program to support postpartum women living with HIV in staying on ART and managing weight.
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.