There have been revolutionary advances in the last decade in researcher's understanding of the genesis of life course health from the critical formative experiences before birth. Even more striking are the factors in a mother's developmental and nutritional history and experience that shape her health, a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and the future life course health and development of her offspring. With emerging and irrefutable epidemiological data in support of the fetal programming and developmental origins of disease model, current major national policies and investments in the U.S. are ever more essential to support the health, nutrition, and well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancies--not only for their own benefit, but more important, for that of their babies--the country's future citizens.