Baby it’s cold outside…and ‘tis the season for MotherToBaby to answer questions about cough and cold medications while breastfeeding. Some “Cold” Hard Facts Factors such as your baby’s age and whether they were born prematurely or have chronic health problems matter. Very young babies (less than 3 months old) may have a more difficult time metabolizing medications in the milk and may be more susceptible to side effects like sleepiness. Milk is also their complete diet, …
The Baby Blog: Medications
Behind the Scenes at MotherToBaby
Did you know that 70% of pregnant people take at least one prescribed medication? And that 90% take any medication during pregnancy? How do you know if it is safe for a pregnant person to take these medicines? MotherToBaby Teratogen Information Specialists (TIS) are experts at answering questions about any possible increased risk of taking an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescribed medication, as well as any other exposures! A teratogen is something that can increase the risk for birth defects …
Birth Defects Prevention Month Series: Making Medication Decisions in Pregnancy Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely
By Ginger Nichols, Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor at MotherToBaby Connecticut With Birth Defects Prevention Month in full swing, it’s time to focus on Tip #2 for Preventing Birth Defects: Booking a visit with your health care provider before stopping or starting any medicine. Callers to MotherToBaby often wonder why it’s important to talk with their health care provider before stopping or starting a medication. My most recent caller to MotherToBaby asked this very question. Maria …
FDA Pregnancy Risk Categories: Going Away for Good
By Lynn Martinez and Julia Robertson, CPM, MotherToBaby Utah During the more than 30 years MotherToBaby affiliates have been serving the public with education regarding exposures during pregnancy, many women have called who are very distressed, sometimes in tears, about finding out they were pregnant while taking a drug categorized as an X or D in the FDA system. “I’ve been on birth control pills and I still got pregnant! Does this mean my baby will have birth defects? It’s a category x drug …
The Science Of Pumping And Dumping: Are Medications And Breast Milk Compatible?
By Pat Olney, MS, CGC, Pregnancy Risk Specialist, MotherToBaby Georgia One day in early June I received a frantic call from a woman who had first called Georgia’s Poison Control Center worried about the agent used to treat her varicose veins. She thought that she did the right thing by postponing her treatment until after she gave birth, but now was concerned about breastfeeding her newborn. The medical director at poison control, who is one of our advisory board members, gave her the correct …
