Where Support Ends, Struggle Begins

Food insecurity among birthing people and infants has become one of the most urgent and least adequately addressed public health challenges of our time. In the push toward healthier, more equitable communities, two recent developments have shaken public conversations: the tightening of SNAP benefits and a viral TikTok social experiment revealing the inconsistency of community support when families ask for help. For those of us invested in advancing maternal and child health, these moments are more than just headlines; they reflect the fragile reality many families live every day.

In pregnant individuals, new parents, and families navigating housing instability, food insecurity is a profound stressor. It can worsen mental health, heighten anxiety, strain familial relationships, and compromise infant and child nutrition during the most critical stages of development. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, SNAP remains one of the most essential lifelines for millions. Yet, as of November 2025, the maximum SNAP allotments were reduced to 50% of the eligible households’ previous benefits. This expense update occurred during the longest government shutdown in history, further straining low-income families whose monthly grocery budgets were already stretched beyond reason.

Adding to this strain, the introduced provisions could further weaken SNAP’s stability by tightening work requirements and shifting administrative burdens to states. These changes undermine access precisely when vulnerability is at its peak. In public health conversations, nutrition security is often treated as a secondary issue. However, the reality is that hunger and uncertainty fundamentally shape pregnancy outcomes, infant development, and long-term well-being.

At the same time, a viral TikTok experiment has sparked national dialogue around where families can realistically turn for help. In these videos, the creator, Nikalie Monroe, called various churches posing as a mother in urgent need of formula. Unsurprisingly, the responses varied widely. Some organizations immediately offered their assistance, while others declined or redirected her.. These disparities are unsettling, with conversations highlighting how society encourages childbearing yet often fails to support child-rearing.

Regardless of perspective, the experiment revealed a troubling truth: no parent or caregiver should have to rely on chance to secure formula for an infant. For families facing homelessness, financial instability, or crises, the difference between receiving immediate and delayed support can shape health outcomes and emotional stability. The experiment highlighted not only individual failures but the patchwork nature of support systems that families in need are forced to navigate.

Both the SNAP cuts and viral videos expose the same systemic vulnerability: institutions designed to protect our most at-risk populations often fail in their most essential responsibilities. As someone committed to maternal and child health and the well-being of families in crisis, I see these moments as urgent calls to action. Strengthening nutrition assistance programs, ensuring consistent community support, and, most importantly, acknowledging the lived realities of families experiencing homelessness are essential steps toward better outcomes. These are not abstract policy debates; instead, they are daily realities shaping who thrives and who is left behind.