TTAC Conference: Pregnancy as a Time of Hope and Fear

Pregnancy ushers a period of deep transformation for the pregnant person and their partner. The physiological, psychological, and relational changes that result from the pregnancy create a reorganization of personal identity as the prospective parents prepare to move from a focus on individual goals to the all-consuming care of a new baby. At a time of increasing risks to the life and health of pregnant persons as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased societal supports, the personal journey of gestation, childbirth, and caregiving of a newborn also needs to be understood in the context of social determinants of health including poverty, lack of access to basic resources, racism, and discrimination.

This talk will examine the biological, emotional, and social facets of pregnancy and the perinatal period and provide a brief description of treatment approaches when clinical concerns call for therapeutic intervention.

This keynote address will discuss pregnant women and their partners and acknowledges the limitations of this subject as not inclusive of the experience and identities all pregnant persons and varying family structures.

Dr. Lieberman will moderate a panel of cross-system experts who will discuss how the care and well-being of parents in the perinatal period who face health inequities due to structural racism, discrimination, and underinvestment in neighborhoods and communities can be improved.