Pregnancy and infancy are critical life‑course stages that shape health, development and inequality across the population. Outcomes during pregnancy, birth and the first year of life are strongly influenced by maternal physical and mental health, access to high‑quality maternity and neonatal care, and wider social determinants such as deprivation, housing, and health behaviours.

Although long‑term improvements have been made, the UK continues to underperform compared with similar countries on key indicators such as infant mortality, and progress has stalled in recent years. Significant and persistent inequalities remain, with poorer outcomes among families living in deprivation and some ethnic minority groups. Pregnancy and infancy represent a key window for prevention and early intervention, where action can reduce avoidable harm, improve life chances, and deliver long‑term benefits for population health and the sustainability of health and care services

This Pregnancy and Infants page is divided into 5 key sections, all of which expand to show further content and then can also be collapsed again.

Pregnancy and Maternal Health

Pregnancy and maternal health are critical public health priorities because health and social risks before and during pregnancy have profound and lasting effects on both maternal outcomes and the lifelong health of the child. Poor maternal physical or mental health, unmanaged long‑term conditions, and social determinants such as deprivation and inequality are strongly associated with higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as adverse birth outcomes. National evidence emphasises that improving health before conception and during pregnancy is one of the most effective ways to reduce avoidable harm, narrow health inequalities, and improve population health across the life course, with pregnancy representing a key window for prevention and early intervention. Click here to show more content or click again to hide content.

Early access to maternity care

Smoking status at time of delivery

Deliveries to young women and girls aged 12 to 17

Deliveries to women aged 35 years and above

Deliveries by caesarean section (%)

Proportion of New Birth Visits (NBVs) completed within 14 days (Persons <14 days)

Proportion of infants receiving a 6 to 8 week review

Births and Infant Health

Births and infant health are central to public health because the period from pregnancy through the first year of life is foundational for physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Infant health outcomes are sensitive indicators of the quality of maternity care, neonatal services, and wider social conditions, including poverty, housing, and access to healthcare. Poor outcomes in infancy are associated with increased risks of long‑term ill health, educational disadvantage, and premature mortality. Persistent inequalities in infant health outcomes by deprivation, ethnicity, and geography highlight the importance of coordinated public health, maternity, and early years systems in giving every child the best possible start in life.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a key public health intervention because it supports optimal infant nutrition, immune development, and bonding, while also delivering significant health benefits for mothers. Evidence consistently shows that breastfeeding reduces the risk of infections, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood obesity, and longer‑term non‑communicable diseases, while also lowering maternal risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Despite this strong evidence base, breastfeeding rates in the UK remain low and socially patterned, contributing to avoidable health inequalities. Supporting breastfeeding through maternity services, community support, and Baby Friendly approaches is therefore an important population‑level strategy for improving early life health and reducing future demand on health services

Smoking in Pregnancy

Smoking in pregnancy is a major and preventable public health risk factor, strongly associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birthweight, and infant mortality. It also contributes to longer‑term harms including respiratory illness, neurodevelopmental problems, and sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking during pregnancy is closely linked to deprivation and wider inequalities, making it an important marker of social disadvantage. Reducing smoking in pregnancy is therefore a high‑impact public health priority, with evidence showing that systematic identification and cessation support within maternity pathways can significantly improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.

Stillbirths and Infant Mortality

Stillbirths and infant mortality are among the most sensitive indicators of population health, healthcare quality, and social inequality. While rates have improved over the long term, progress has stalled in recent years, and significant disparities persist by deprivation, ethnicity, maternal age, and birthweight. Many of the underlying risk factors—such as smoking, poor maternal health, inadequate antenatal care, and adverse social conditions—are modifiable through effective public health and maternity interventions. Reducing stillbirths and infant deaths is therefore a core public health objective, reflecting both the preventability of many deaths and the profound and lasting impact on families and communities