Pre-, Peri-, and Postnatal (pregnancy and birth)
Upper and Lower Airway (breathing)
Obesity
(body weight)
Neurodevelopment (brain development)
Positive Health
(well-being)Pregnancy and birth
ECHO researchers use data from more than 64,000 diverse children and their families across the U.S. to investigate the pre-, peri-, and postnatal periods. In addition, the ECHO IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN) conducts clinical trials focused on pre-, peri-, and postnatal health, among other areas of health.
ECHO Discovery
Webinar Recordings
Microbiomes of Pregnancy and Infancy: Implications for Child Health Outcomes
Fish Consumption during Pregnancy and Impacts on Child Health
Pregnancy and
Birth Resources
CDC: Pregnancy
Contains facts and information on staying healthy during pregnancy.
MedlinePlus: Premature Babies
Provides information, links, and resources to help understand premature babies and the health issues that they may face. Shares tips and support for parents of premature babies.
QUESTIONS
For more information, please email the NIH at NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.
For media inquiries or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager at rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.
How ECHO Advances Pre-, Peri-, and Postnatal Health
The ECHO Program investigates factors that can influence child health outcomes before, during, and just after birth. These factors include environmental exposures during pregnancy, a pregnant woman's physical and mental health, and whether there are pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. The program also looks at how exposure to opioids can affect child health outcomes.
Many factors before, during, and just after birth can influence child health outcomes. These factors can affect birth outcomes such as preterm birth or being born small for gestational age. They can also affect outcomes later in childhood, like how well they breathe, how much they weigh, how their brain develops, and how healthy they are overall. In addition, studying the pre-, peri-, and postnatal periods can give researchers insight into factors that affect the health of mothers and babies and contribute to health disparities.
What We're Learning
Since its launch, the ECHO Program has published more than 2,000 research articles on a wide range of child health topics. Within this body of work, many studies have examined the pre-, peri-, and postnatal periods.
Here are some research highlights:
Wildfire Smoke Exposure May Be Linked to Higher Risk of Preterm Birth, ECHO Study Finds
November 2025
Higher than average wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy was linked to a slight increase in risk for preterm birth.
PFAS Exposure Associated with Changes in Gut Microbiome During Pregnancy
August 2025
Mothers with prenatal PFAS exposure did not show changes in overall gut microbiome diversity, but had higher or lower levels of certain gut bacteria.
Prenatal Vitamin D Levels Associated with Children’s Brain Development, ECHO Study Suggests
August 2025
Children whose mothers had higher vitamin D levels early in pregnancy tended to score better on problem-solving and learning new information at ages 7–12.
Adverse Birth Outcomes May be Associated with Arsenic Levels in Public Drinking Water
June 2025
Babies born to mothers potentially exposed to low levels of arsenic in public drinking water—even at levels below the federal safety standard—were more likely to be born preterm, with lower birthweight, or be smaller than expected.
Obesity, Diabetes, & High Blood Pressure Before and During Pregnancy are Associated with Higher Blood Pressure in Children
May 2025
Children born to mothers with cardiometabolic health issues before or during pregnancy may face a higher risk of elevated blood pressure in childhood and adolescence.