Use the MotherToBaby pregnancy calculator and chart below to determine how far along you are and see how your baby develops during pregnancy. This interactive tool shows when the baby’s body parts could be most sensitive to exposures, and is best displayed on a desktop. Please click on each part of the chart below to […]| MotherToBaby
The Baby Blog, written by MotherToBaby experts, helps mothers better understand how to minimize pregnancy and breastfeeding exposure risks.| MotherToBaby
Having worked as a Teratogen Information Specialist at MotherToBaby for close to 10 years, I have become well versed in the different exposures people commonly ask about. Allergy medications in the spring, sunscreen and bug spray in the summer, and cough and cold medications all winter long. So, when I logged onto our live chat […]| MotherToBaby
Mental health conditions are real health issues that deserve appropriate and individualized medical care. Making informed healthcare decisions requires that women and their healthcare providers be aware of the available safety information for each specific medication they might be considering. We encourage pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy to have open conversations with their healthcare […]| MotherToBaby
Understanding Critical Periods in Pregnancy Kendra, newly pregnant at approximately 7 weeks along, contacted MotherToBaby late one afternoon with a question that had been causing her a lot of anxiety. Norovirus was running rampant in her home, and she was feeling extremely nauseous. Having found relief with it before, she explained that she had taken […] The post MotherToBaby Interactive Critical Periods of Pregnancy Tool appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
The arrival of spring and summer warmth spurs many of us to spend more time outdoors and make travel plans, be it for a honeymoon, babymoon, or other seasonal getaway. Such was the case with Yesenia, who contacted MotherToBaby with questions about her upcoming summer vacation after finding out she is pregnant. Yesenia knew that […] The post Vector-Borne Illnesses: How to Fight the (Bug) Bite During Pregnancy appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
Marie called with a question, “My baby is 4 weeks old, and my husband and I love her to death. However, she is a lot of work, and we do not want another little one quite yet. My husband and I are also hoping to resume our sex life, but can I be on birth […] The post Birth Control and Breastfeeding appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
Melissa, pregnant for the first time, live chatted with MotherToBaby through our website: “Hi, I’m 29 weeks pregnant and wondering about vaccines. I have seen so many different things online and I am worried about getting really sick while I’m pregnant. Can you help?” Melissa is not alone. Many people contact MotherToBaby to find the […] The post Immunization Education: Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines Before and During Pregnancy appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
Spring break is often associated with young college students flocking to the beaches to take a break from their studies. However, it is now embraced by a diverse crowd, including families with pregnant and breastfeeding women. Spring break typically takes place between March and April each year, leading to masses of people traveling by planes, […] The post Spring Break Safety for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Tips for a Fun and Safe Holiday appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
You may have heard recently that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) Red No. 3. In this blog, we will review details about the ban, including why it was enacted, and the timeline for removing FD&C Red No. 3 from products. Our goal is to equip […] The post Stay Informed: Understanding the Impact of the Red Dye No. 3 Ban on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
In recent years, plant-based diets have become more and more popular. People choose to go vegetarian for a variety of reasons including health benefits, sustainability concerns, and ethical motivations. Whatever the reason, this type of diet can be healthy and nutritionally adequate, even during the reproductive years. However, during pregnancy, a bit of planning may […] The post Meeting Dietary Requirements as a Pregnant Vegetarian appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
By LauraAnne Hirschler, BS, OMS4 with help from Casey Rosen-Carole, MD, MPH, MSEd, FABM and Rogelio Perez-D’Gregorio, MD, MS As an infant, I received the gift of life in the form of a liver transplant. Growing up, I remember taking a multitude of medications that just became part of my daily life. As the years […] The post Can Moms Who Had a Transplant Breastfeed While Taking Tacrolimus? appeared first on MotherToBaby.| MotherToBaby
By Angela Messer, MS, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby California “I love the way my eyebrows look!” Emily just found out she was 6 weeks pregnant, and had started the process of microblading (a cosmetic tattooing technique, in which a tool made of small needles is used to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin; resembling the […]| MotherToBaby
OTIS, The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, is the professional scientific society that provides the MotherToBaby service.| MotherToBaby
This sheet is about having anxiety in a pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is anxiety? Anxiety is excessive and uncontrollable worry. It is common to worry about your pregnancy or your baby’s […]| MotherToBaby
This sheet is about paternal exposures. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is a paternal exposure? A paternal exposure is anything a man is exposed to before a pregnancy is conceived, while trying to conceive pregnancy, or […]| MotherToBaby
This sheet is about exposure to the Zika virus in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is Zika? How do people get it? Zika is a virus that is usually spread by infected […]| MotherToBaby
This sheet is about exposure to insect repellents in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What are insect repellents? Insect repellents are lotions, sprays, or oils that are put on skin or clothing to […]| MotherToBaby
This sheet is about exposure to DEET in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)? N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or m-DET (DEET) is the active ingredient in many insect repellents. It is the most […]| MotherToBaby
One of the most common Zika-related questions we get at MotherToBaby is, “What is the risk of Zika if I travel to Country X?” Or, a variation of the same: “We just got back from Country X. Do we really need to wait 3 months before we try to get pregnant?” Back when the Zika […]| MotherToBaby
“I’m worried. I can’t sleep. It’s anxiety.” The message came through from Natalie a few minutes after I had logged onto our live chat service at MotherToBaby.org. “I’m 14 weeks pregnant and concerned about taking a SSRI” she continued. As a Teratogen Information Specialist, I answer questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding on a […]| MotherToBaby
By Kirstie Perrotta, MPH, MotherToBaby California Cara and her husband Mark were contacting MotherToBaby for the first time. “Our adoption counselor just called – we have been matched with a potential birth mom this morning and she’s due next Friday!” Cara blurted out excitedly. “The counselor said you would be able to tell us about […]| MotherToBaby
“I am so overwhelmed with all information available online nowadays about pregnancy and having a baby, I don’t know how to know what is best for me and my pregnancy!” shared Michelle, who was 15 weeks into her first pregnancy. Not only has the first trimester been full of morning sickness, but she has been […]| MotherToBaby
