MotherToBaby knows that people who are pregnant have a lot to remember. Between taking a prenatal vitamin every day, getting blood work done, attending prenatal visits, and preparing for baby’s arrival, the pregnancy to-do list can feel never-ending. In an effort to provide a simplified reminder about the four vaccines recommended in pregnancy and why they are each so important, MotherToBaby has created a helpful infographic available for download below.

“This infographic is a great reminder of the many benefits vaccinations offer during pregnancy” shared Kirstie Perrotta, MPH, co-chair of MotherToBaby’s Emerging Issues Task Force. “Getting these vaccines on time is one of the most important things a pregnant person can do for their health and the health of their baby.”

For a PDF version of the infographic, click here.

MotherToBaby also has other resources available on the topic of vaccination in pregnancy.

Be sure to subscribe to The MotherToBaby Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episode series on vaccination. The podcast is available on iTunes, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Past vaccine-related podcast episodes:

RSV Vaccine in Pregnancy

Vaccine Questions during Pregnancy Answered

Vaccine Questions during Breastfeeding Answered

COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy

Read our recent Baby Blogs discussing vaccination here:

• https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/another-vaccine-in-pregnancy-yes-and-heres-why-thats-good-news/
• https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/immunization-education-everything-you-need-to-know-about-vaccines-before-and-during-pregnancy/

And check out our vaccine fact sheets here:

• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/covid-19-mrna/
• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/covid-19-protein-subunit-vaccine/
• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/seasonal-influenza-vaccine-flu-shot-pregnancy/
• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis-tdap-vaccine-pregnancy/
• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine-abrysvo/

Still have more questions? MotherToBaby specialists are happy to assist you further. Please feel free to call, chat, text, or email for more information: https://mothertobaby.org/contact/

The post MotherToBaby Reminds the Public About the Importance of Vaccinations During Pregnancy appeared first on MotherToBaby.

You can participate by:

·        Following @MotherToBabyOTIS on Instagram

·        Tap the small badge around the story circles at the top of the screen that says “live” to enter the live stream at 10a PT/1p ET.

·        Once you’re in the livestream, you can ask a question and/or add a comment. Let us know you’re there! World Birth Defects Day is an opportunity to spread the word about preventing birth defects and sharing resources. We hope to see you there on 3/3/2022!

The post World Birth Defects Day March 3 Instagram LIVE! appeared first on MotherToBaby.

LIVE EVENTS on March 3^rd

Event Descriptions

WHO World Birth Defects Day Webinar via Zoom

8:00AM EST / 2:00PM CET

All children have the right to a healthy start in life. Babies born with birth defects are particularly at risk of death and lifelong disability. Many birth defects can be prevented and treated. But, when a baby is born with a birth defect, receiving the right care as soon as possible gives them the best chance to life and helps them reach their maximum potential. There is a need for strengthening healthcare services to meet the needs of babies born with a birth defect, in particular in low-and-middle income countries of Asia and Africa, where the health care systems are the weakest and the burden of birth defects is the highest. To promote quality of care and universal health coverage for children with birth defects, we must bring to light the human rights perspective and the need for advocacy.

With this webinar, we would like to commemorate World Birth Defects Day to raise awareness about #ManyBirthdefects1Voice. Registration details will be shared soon.

#WORLDBDDAY Global Twitter Chat

On March 3^rd at 11:00AM EST, 5:00PM CET, join us during the Twitter Chat as one voice to raise awareness about birth defects. To prepare, get the bilingual script and questions here.  Even if you cannot join us live, please schedule a tweet using #WorldBDDay at this time.

Facebook Live Event: COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

The event panel includes moderator Robert Felix, MD; and speakers Sonja Rasmussen, MD, Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, MPH, and Kirstie Perrotta, MPH.

Follow MotherToBaby at https://fb.me/e/A2mTOEya

Lead Exposure Webinar

As parents or when planning to start a family, it’s important to know and understand how to achieve the best care and health for children, but where do you begin? Right at home! Houses, especially older ones, can be a source of lead exposure. Although lead-based paint hasn’t been sold since the late 70s, many older homes still have it. Learn about the available resources supporting families who are exposed to lead.  On World Birth Defects Day March 3, join the free webinar presented by MotherToBaby and Family Voices on the impact of lead exposures during pregnancy, infancy and in childhood. Register here now. 

The post World Birth Defects Day March 3 Free Events appeared first on MotherToBaby.

LA JOLLA, CA –A new study conducted by birth defects research experts from the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) launches to examine the short and long-term effects of the novel COVID-19 virus in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The observational study will consist of phone calls over the course of volunteers’ pregnancies and post-delivery, and/or breastmilk samples, as well as a release of medical records related to the pregnancy and the infant’s development.

OTIS is the scientific non-profit society that provides the no-cost MotherToBaby information service and enrolls women through the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies.

“Women and their health care providers need answers as quickly as possible regarding the effects of COVID-19 during pregnancy and while breastfeeding,” said the Principal Investigator, Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, OTIS/MotherToBaby president and professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego (pictured right). “We know that pregnant and breastfeeding moms are contracting COVID-19, but the fact of the matter is that we know very little about its short and long-term effects on a developing baby,” she added. “We hope pregnant women see the importance in helping the world understand this novel virus and consider volunteering for the study.”

The study is open to pregnant and breastfeeding women in the United States and Canada with known or suspected COVID-19 infection. The MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies Research Center is located at the University of California San Diego.

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can enroll in the study at the following link https://mothertobaby.org/join-study/ or by calling MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies at (877) 311-8972. Learn more about the ongoing observational study at https://mothertobaby.org/ongoing-study/coronavirus-covid-19/.

Health care providers can refer pregnant and breastfeeding patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection at the following link https://mothertobaby.org/healthcare-professional-referral-form/ or by calling MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies at (877) 311-8972.

More about OTIS and MotherToBaby

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To learn more about ongoing MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies, call (877) 311-8972, email MotherToBaby@ucsd.edu or visit www.MotherToBaby.org.

The study launched March 23, 2020. Interviews with Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH are now being scheduled. Interested media, please call 619-368-3259 or email nchavez@mothertobaby.org.

The post MotherToBaby Launches First COVID-19 in Pregnancy Study appeared first on MotherToBaby.

We know pregnant women are concerned about the newly described coronavirus. MotherToBaby and the CDC are monitoring the situation and will educate people if there is new evidence about a danger from a coronavirus infection that would be specific to the unborn baby. You can find more information on your common questions about the coronavirus through our fact sheet at: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/covid-19/. In the meantime, common strategies to avoid getting sick include thoroughly washing your hands and avoiding obviously ill people. Contact your healthcare provider if you feel ill and are concerned. If you develop a serious respiratory infection, it is much more likely to be Influenza (the flu) than coronavirus. We know that pregnant women have a harder time fighting off infections, like the flu, which can lead to complications for pregnant women and for babies. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot, do it now, for your own health and for the wellbeing of your baby. MotherToBaby has a fact sheet on the flu vaccine at: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/seasonal-influenza-the-flu-pregnancy/. To keep up with travel notifications and other news on the new coronavirus, go the CDC Coronavirus page at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html [cdc.gov].

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