BLOOM: Benefiting the Lives of Offspring and Mothers
A perinatal prevention program targeting the Thrive factor
Background and Objectives
Bloom is a perinatal prevention program developed at Washington University in St. Louis that supports caregivers from pregnancy through the first year after birth, a critical period for both maternal wellbeing and infant development. The program focuses on optimizing infant developmental outcomes.
Research has demonstrated that key environmental supports during pregnancy and the first year of life powerfully impact early neurodevelopment. Recent findings from Washington University indicate that a “Thrive factor” composed of environmental stimulation, nutrition, neighborhood safety, positive caregiving, and child sleep during the first year is associated with improved cognitive abilities, reduced behavioral symptoms, and increased cortical gray matter volume at ages 2 and 3 years (Luby et al., 2024).
Bloom is grounded in this scientific evidence and directly targets the Thrive factor through structured, evidence-based interventions. The program is designed to address persistent inequities in maternal and infant health, with a focus on supporting underserved families in the St. Louis area. By integrating accessible technology with personalized clinical care, the program aims to reach populations that may face barriers to traditional healthcare services and improve health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
What We’re Working On
We are developing a comprehensive intervention model that combines digital health technology with clinical care delivery to support maternal and infant health:
Bloom Mobile App: Digital support for caregivers
The Bloom mobile application provides personalized, evidence-based content on self-care, mental health, child development, and caregiving practices. Care team members can recommend targeted resources between sessions to address individual family needs. The app also provides a curated directory of community and institutional resources. All app content is clinically reviewed, adheres to established medical guidelines, and is informed by feedback from caregivers in the St. Louis community.
Clinician delivered telehealth sessions
In collaboration with St. Louis area healthcare professionals, Bloom delivers structured telehealth sessions via videoconference that provide care coordination, coaching on caregiver–infant interaction, and emotional support. Care team members use a guided “teach and coach” methodology, observing mothers interacting with their infants via video, identifying strengths, and supporting caregivers in responding to infant cues. Session content addresses common challenges including infant soothing, feeding, stress management, maternal attunement, breastfeeding support, and infant sleep optimization.
Care team members receive structured training prior to program delivery and ongoing clinical supervision throughout implementation. Supervision protocols include immediate consultation pathways when complex or safety related situations arise, ensuring the wellbeing of both caregivers and families.
Please contact bloomapp@wustl.edu with any questions.
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