The U.S. fertility rate hit another record low last year, with families having fewer children

and a growing number of women opting out of motherhood altogether.

A new large-scale study might offer some clarity.

American mothers have seen a stark drop in their mental health.

Stephanie Sy is back with that story.

He is very rambunctious.

He is smart and he is funny.

Teresa Ingle wouldn't trade being a mother to Theo for anything.

But that doesn't mean it's easy being a parent to a child with autism.

He has days where he's very negative and he just kind of absorb it and then you're

thinking of all the things going on that you have no control over and I don't sleep well. I really

don't. I have that, you know, the 3 a.m. thing where you're like, so many things are wrong and

how can I fix it and just feeling kind of powerless.

Taking care of Theo was a full-time job. And without a paying job, the high cost of living is only creating more stress.

Things have become so precarious. We don't get help. We do have Medicaid.

That's it.

And the safety nets are slashed, cut.

It doesn't feel good.

This Ohio mom is far from alone.

We spoke to mothers throughout the country across race and socioeconomic status.

They told us they're overwhelmed, stressed out, and lacking in

necessary support and resources. I lay awake at night, you know, worried about my children's

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