A Little Care, A Lifetime of Hope
Every year on April 7, the world comes together to celebrate World Health Day – an awareness campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is meant to draw attention to a specific health topic that impacts people all over the world. This year’s theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” highlights the importance of ensuring safe pregnancies, healthy childbirth, and strong support systems for both mothers and newborns.
A Reality Check: Maternal and Infant Mortality
According to the WHO, over 287,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications. In addition to this, approximately 2.4 million newborns per year do not survive beyond their first month of life. Many of these deaths would be preventable with proper healthcare, education, and community support. This year’s World Health Day theme aims to start a conversation on how we can better care for newborns and their mothers during this critical early stage in life.
6 Ways to Give New Mothers and Babies a Healthy Start
1. Mental Health Matters
Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 women who have recently given birth. Family members and friends can help by being proactive in keeping an eye on the mother’s emotional state, so that they can offer support without judgment. Conversations about mental health can help new mothers feel supported and cared for by those around them.
2. Empower Mothers with Knowledge
Expecting mothers should be educated on prenatal care, healthy nutrition, and warning signs of complications. Attend regular checkups and seek guidance from healthcare providers.
3. Form A Connection With Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth regulates the baby’s temperature, stabilizes heart rate, and promotes breastfeeding. It also helps mothers bond with their newborns, reducing the risk of postpartum depression.
4. Help Mothers Heal with Support
Attentive partners, family, and friends play a vital role in postpartum recovery. Assisting with household tasks, preparing nutritious meals, or simply offering emotional support helps mothers focus on healing and caring for their babies.
5. Ensure Access to Postpartum Care
Postnatal checkups are just as important as prenatal visits. Mothers should be encouraged to attend follow-up appointments to monitor physical and emotional recovery. These visits can detect infections, manage postpartum depression, and address breastfeeding challenges.
6. Recognize and Respond to Emergencies
Timely intervention saves lives. Recognizing warning signs such as excessive bleeding, high fever, or severe pain after childbirth can prevent life-threatening complications. Families and caregivers who are educated on when and how to seek medical attention drastically improve the chances of an emergency being addressed quickly and effectively.
A healthy beginning for mothers and newborns is the first step towards a hopeful future. By raising awareness, providing education, and fostering supportive environments, communities can prevent unnecessary deaths and lay the foundation for lasting health. As we observe World Health Day 2025, let’s commit to empowering mothers and ensuring that every child has a strong, healthy start.
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Resources:
Skin-to-skin contact. Baby Friendly Initiative. (2023, January 27). https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/skin-to-skin-contact/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, June 2). Mom’s Mental Health Matters: Moms-to-be and Moms – NCMHEP. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms
World Health Organization. (2023, February 23). A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: Un agencies. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-02-2023-a-woman-dies-every-two-minutes-due-to-pregnancy-or-childbirth–un-agencies
World Health Organization. (2024, March 14). Newborn mortality. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/newborn-mortality
World Health Organization. (2025). World Health Day 2025. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2025
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The Team at BSDI