Child Development Unit

The Mother-Baby Intervention Study

Who: First-time mothers of healthy newborns are currently being recruited from Boston and surrounding hospitals to participate in this study. Mothers complete a short screening questionnaire at about one month postpartum to determine eligibility for the study.

Why: Becoming a mother is a major life transition that brings joys as well as challenges. It's not uncommon for mothers of newborns to feel overwhelmed both physically and emotionally by the tremendous life changes and the constant responsibility of caring for a newborn. The Mother-Baby Intervention Study is designed to help prevent postpartum depression by promoting maternal emotional well-being and mother-baby relationships in first-time mothers of newborns.

What being in the study involves: For the first 3 months of the study, participants receive one of the two possible interventions: either by telephone conversations or by home visits from a nurse. Following the intervention phase, home visits are made to collect follow-up information. When babies are 12 months old mothers are asked to bring their baby to the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital Boston for a final visit. Compensation for time and a small gift are given to participating mothers and babies

Contact: For more information please contact Janice Goodman, PhD, RN at 617-726-0862 or at jgoodman@mghihp.edu