Derwen (United States)

Peter Anthony D'Amato, the inimitable pioneer of carnivorous plants, founder of California Carnivores, and author of The Savage Garden, passed away from cancer on the afternoon of 26 June 2024. He leaves behind his brother, Dino D'Amato, his niece Tara Page, his nephew Anthony D'Amato, and of course his California Carnivores tribe that loved him and called him family.

We identify the causal effect of mothers' mental health during early - and soon after pregnancy on a range of child psychological, socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes measured between ages 4-16. Results suggest a negative effect on children's psychological and socio-emotional skills in early childhood, but these effects fade-out between the ages of 11-13. We find no significant effect on cognitive outcomes. The fade-out of effects may be partly explained by compensatory behaviour of parents, as we find that mental health during or soon after pregnancy raises breastfeeding and improves measures of interaction between mother and child.