Sara contacted us on the MotherToBaby live chat service after being referred by her OB/GYN who had told her that the Paxil (drug name paroxetine) she was taking could cause a heart defect. She was 14 weeks along and wanted to learn more, but was confused because all her genetic testing results had come back normal. She asked: “How could my baby have a heart defect if my non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) was negative?” During pregnancy, there are many tests done to check on the …
The Baby Blog
About Our Baby Blog
Every person wants to know what’s best for their baby, especially when it comes to knowing how to minimize exposure risks. Our relatable stories are packed with practical information from our rotating staff of MotherToBaby expert bloggers. Whatever topic you’re looking for, our blogs will provide you a great foundation to learn more.
Balancing Act: The Importance of Medication Dose in Pregnancy
By: Kirstie Perrotta, MPH and Becky Spencer, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, IBCLC, PMH-C, FILCA Shannon was newly pregnant and had been referred to MotherToBaby by her doctor. She was taking 50 mg of sertraline per day for general anxiety and her doctor thought that she may need to wean off the medication now that she was 5 weeks pregnant. Shannon had been taking the medication for 3 years and was feeling great on her current dose, so she had some concerns about this plan. On the MotherToBaby website’s …
Immunization Education: Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines Before and During Pregnancy
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 most up-to-date information about vaccines during pregnancy. Protecting yourself from circulating viruses can also help protect your developing baby. Infections …
Maintaining Your Glow: Navigating Cosmetic Procedures While Pregnant or Breastfeeding
“I’m supposed to get dermal fillers tomorrow, is it still safe for me to get this procedure!?” Erin had booked this appointment with their dermatologist weeks ago, and while Erin was so excited today to learn that they were pregnant, they weren’t sure if the fillers were still a good idea. Hopeful for smoother skin and less noticeable wrinkles, they called us for guidance. Erin isn’t alone in having questions – MotherToBaby information specialists are often asked about getting cosmetic …
Don’t Stress Me Out: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Pregnancy
These were the sentiments of pregnant individuals going through the pandemic. It was an unprecedented event and as MotherToBaby Specialists we were challenged with dealing with the anxiety of expectant parents as they tried to get reliable information and deal with their fears, anxiety, and frustrations. Fortunately, as time went on, the infection did not appear to increase the chance of birth defects but now there is a question of the emotional toil it put on pregnant …
