Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs) Increase Risk for Infant and Maternal Morbidity and Mortality, and Chronic Illness

Adverse babyhood experiences (ABEs) identify 10 categories of negative events for mothers before they conceive, and for parents and babies from conception until a child’s third birthday. ABEs identify preventable and reducible non-genetic factors that increase risk for infant morbidity and mortality, chronic illness, mental health conditions, and other symptoms in a child’s life; morbidity and mortality in mothers; PTSD and depression in fathers, and more. Understanding, repairing, and reversing effects of ABEs decreases risk for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and for poor health outcomes in parents and children.