Parenting begins before birth
Your relationship is the foundation of your family’s health
During pregnancy, so much attention is devoted to preparing the physical environment—choosing a car seat, setting up the nursery, and checking off endless to-do lists. Yet one of the most important preparations is almost always overlooked: the relationship in which your child's development unfolds.
Your relationship profoundly shapes how you and your partner navigate stress, support one another, parent together, and create a stable, loving home. Together, you create the emotional foundation of your family’s health.
Decades of research have shown that relationship health is one of the strongest predictors of parental, child, and family well-being, yet most couples receive little, if any, support during one of life's biggest transitions.
Partners to Parents was created to change that.
Partners to Parents is as a relationship check-up designed specifically for expecting couples
Begin parenthood feeling more connected, more intentional, and more prepared to navigate the journey ahead together.
Program FAQ
-
By participating in Partners to Parents, you'll have the opportunity to strengthen your relationship before your baby arrives—building communication, resilience, and connection during one of life's biggest transitions.
Your participation will also help shape the future of perinatal care. Partners to Parents has been developed and pilot-tested in collaboration with a leading academic medical center, and we are continuing to refine the program based on feedback from participating couples. By sharing your experience, you'll help us create an even more effective resource for future parents and families.
-
Partners to Parents is designed for couples who are:
Expecting a baby and less than 36 weeks pregnant
Trying to conceive
Have been living together for at least 6 months
English-speaking (Future versions will be available in multiple languages)
Whether your relationship feels strong or you're noticing areas of strain, the program is designed to help you enter this next chapter with greater confidence, understanding, and connection
-
Participation is completely free. Before beginning the program, you'll complete a few online questionnaires. You'll then participate in two virtual sessions with a licensed couple and family psychologist, scheduled at times that are convenient for you.
After completing the program, we'll ask you for brief oral feedback. Your insights will help us refine Partners to Parents and make it even more helpful for future couples and families.
Grounded in relationship science and designed for real life, Partners to Parents helps couples strengthen the relationship at the heart of your growing family.
You'll meet with a psychologist specializing in couple and family relationships during pregnancy for two structured conversations tailored to your unique relationship. Rather than a one-size fits all approach, we’ll focus on the goals and concerns that matter most to you. Think of it as preventive care for your relationship—much like prenatal care is preventive care for you & your baby’s health.
Our mission is to help you enter parenthood feeling more deeply connected, better understood and supported by one another, and more confident in your ability to navigate the challenges—and joys—of this next chapter together.
Dedicated time to pause & reflect together before life becomes busier
Intentional conversation to best support one another
Exploration of strengths & vulnerabilities
Reflection on parenting & family you hope to create
Many couples tell us these conversations are ones they always wanted to have—but never found the time or structure to begin. Interested in learning more about how you and your partner can participate?
Partners to Parents is offered at no cost to participate for couples who qualify.
Relational health is family health
Meet the Team
Partners to Parents was developed by Dr. Ellen Darling, a clinical psychologist specializing in couple relationships, perinatal mental health, and the transition to parenthood. Dr. Darling is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Lifeline for Families Group at UMass Chan Medical School and maintains a private practice in Providence, Rhode Island and online.
Partners to Parents is continuously refined through participant feedback and ongoing research. The program is currently being studied in collaboration with colleagues at McGill University in Montreal, with partial support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
We’d love to meet you
Enduring relationships don't happen by accident or good luck. They begin with regular attention.
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute introductory call to learn more about Partners to Parents and whether the study is right for you.