UCSD - University of California - San Diego

05/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/07/2026 03:18

A Mother’s Day Gift of Knowledge: Pregnancy and Parenting Advice from UCTV’s Motherhood Channel

Published Date

May 07, 2026

Article Content

Mother's Day is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary care, strength, and resilience that mothers bring to families and communities every day. But behind every confident parent is something just as powerful: access to trusted, evidence-based health information and support.

For many parents-to-be, questions begin long before the first baby shower. What should I expect during pregnancy? How do I prepare for childbirth? What happens in the first months after a baby arrives? In an era when online searches often lead to conflicting advice, reliable pregnancy advice and maternal health information have never been more important.

That's where the UCTV Motherhood Channel comes in.

Part of University of California Television within UC San Diego's Division of Extended Studies and sponsored by UC San Diego Health's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, the channel offers free pregnancy resources and parenting education videos designed to help families navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of life with confidence.

The series of programs brings together physicians, midwives, nurses, and researchers from UC San Diego Health to translate medical knowledge into clear, science-based health guidance for everyday life. All programs are available in English, with the La Maternidad channel version offering Spanish captions.

Available online to viewers worldwide, the Motherhood Channel reflects UCTV's public-service mission: transforming university research and clinical expertise into accessible health education that supports healthier families and communities.

Evidence-based pregnancy and parenting advice from medical experts

Pregnancy and early parenthood can be filled with wonder, but they can also bring uncertainty. The Motherhood Channel was created to answer the kinds of questions many families search for online, providing expert medical advice and pregnancy health tips they can trust.

Programs cover the entire journey into parenthood, including:

  • Preparing for pregnancy and prenatal health
  • Routine medical tests and pregnancy care
  • Labor and delivery expectations
  • Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
  • Pelvic floor health and postpartum recovery
  • Fertility and reproductive health
  • Menopause and women's health across the lifespan

These short, engaging videos offer practical parenting guidance and pregnancy education that viewers can quickly apply to their own lives.

For example, one program explores how to prepare for pregnancy and optimize prenatal health, helping parents take proactive steps before conception. Another episode explains what happens during labor and delivery, giving families a clearer understanding of childbirth and easing common anxieties.

Together, these videos provide evidence-based pregnancy advice and new parent resources grounded in real clinical experience.

UCTV's Motherhood Channel helps ensure that when patients turn to "Dr. Google,' they find clear, concise, and evidence-based information they can trust," said Dr. Julia Cormano, MD, FACOG, Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum and Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Its library of short, engaging videos on pregnancy, pelvic floor health, nursing, menopause, fertility, and more has collectively garnered millions of views."

Advancing maternal health through science and education

One of the defining strengths of the Motherhood Channel is its connection to leading medical researchers and clinicians. Unlike much of the pregnancy content circulating online, these programs are grounded in academic medicine and maternal health research.

Experts from obstetrics and gynecology share insights on fertility, pregnancy health, infant development, and postpartum wellness, translating complex medical knowledge into understandable guidance for families.

Topics extend beyond pregnancy itself to explore the broader science of women's health education, including menopause, pelvic health, reproductive medicine, and emerging research into maternal and infant wellbeing.

This approach reflects a growing movement in medicine: empowering patients and families with science-based health guidance so they can actively participate in their own healthcare decisions.

In other words, the Motherhood Channel helps ensure that when families search online for answers, they can find trusted health information from medical experts, not speculation or misinformation.

"We are grateful for UCTV's support in helping us reach patients with scientifically accurate information in an accessible and easy-to-consume format," added Dr. Cormano.

Supporting women's health across every stage of life

Motherhood doesn't begin and end with childbirth. It's part of a lifelong journey that evolves through different stages of health and family life.

Recognizing this, the Motherhood Channel expands its focus beyond pregnancy to include issues affecting women throughout adulthood, including fertility, reproductive health, and menopause education.

By examining maternal health and women's wellness across the lifespan, the channel helps viewers understand how reproductive health connects to broader physical and emotional well-being.

The programming also highlights scientific discoveries in maternal and infant health, including research on the placenta, human milk, and pregnancy-related immune system changes. These insights offer a deeper understanding of how medical research continues to improve care for mothers and babies worldwide.

Free pregnancy and parenting resources for families everywhere

Related content

Top 5 videos to watch

Looking for quick, expert guidance on pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health? These popular programs from the UCTV Motherhood Channel offer trusted advice from physicians and maternal health experts.

1. Ultrasound: An Early View of Baby. One of the Motherhood Channel's most popular videos, with almost 6 million views, this video provides an inside look at an ultrasound and its use during pregnancy to evaluate the baby's overall health and anatomy. (Watch Video)

2. Preparing for Pregnancy. Learn the essential steps to take before conception, including nutrition, prenatal vitamins, and lifestyle changes that support a healthy pregnancy. (Watch Video)

3. Breastfeeding: Common Questions. Discover practical tips and expert guidance on breastfeeding, including common challenges and strategies for success. (Watch Video)

4. Your Pelvic Floor: Prolapse, Pregnancy, and Incontinence. An important look at pelvic dysfunction and why pelvic floor health plays a key role in long-term wellness for women and mothers. (Watch Video)

5. What is a High Risk pregnancy? Medical experts explain common reasons a pregnancy could be considered "high risk," the types of care available, considerations for delivery and more. (Watch Video).

Dr. Julia Cormano, MD, FACOG, Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum and Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

One of the most powerful aspects of UCTV programming is its accessibility. All Motherhood Channel videos are available online for free, making pregnancy education and parenting resources accessible to families everywhere.

Viewers can stream programs anytime on computers, phones, or tablets, allowing parents to learn at their own pace. Schools, libraries, and healthcare organizations also share these videos to expand public health education and maternal health awareness.

Additional resources are listed on the Motherhood Channel home page, providing links to UC San Diego Health and UC Health for Prenatal classes, physician and midwife referrals, UC San Diego Health Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, UC San Diego Health Pregnancy and Birth Care and the UC Health Milk Bank.

This open-access model reflects the broader mission of the University of California: sharing knowledge beyond campus walls to benefit the public.

Celebrating mothers through knowledge and support

This Mother's Day, flowers and cards are meaningful gestures. But knowledge may be one of the most powerful gifts of all.

By connecting families with trusted experts and the latest medical insights, the Motherhood Channel empowers parents with evidence-based pregnancy advice, maternal health education, and practical parenting guidance.

Whether someone is planning for a baby, navigating pregnancy, recovering postpartum, or simply learning more about women's health, the Motherhood Channel offers a compassionate and science-based guide along the way.

When parents have access to credible health information and free pregnancy resources, they are better equipped to care for themselves, their children, and their communities.

And that's something worth celebrating this Mother's Day.

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on May 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 07, 2026 at 09:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]