Israelis have needed all the effort, sacrifice and resilience of the whole country to endure an unexpectedly prolonged war, starting from 2023. It is difficult to explain the lasting psychological toll of waking every few hours through the night to seek shelter as explosions from intercepted missiles rattle nearby windowpanes.

Research has told us for decades that the postnatal period is a critical window for maternal health and infant development. Yet for many Israeli mothers, that window has felt more like a chasm during this nation’s prolonged war, especially as many have faced this difficult trial alone.