As it turns out, I’m not crazy nor am I a hypochondriac! After decades – and I mean more than 30 years – of bouts of severe constipation and diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, migraines, skin rashes and infertility, I finally received the news that I have celiac disease. Oddly enough, it was only after adopting a sickly cocker spaniel named “Peanut” from the Humane Society that the mystery of my symptoms was solved. When our vet suggested that Peanut eat gluten-free food, I bought her some …
The Baby Blog: Mom's Health Conditions
Is It Normal To Be Anxious During Pregnancy?
*May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month* By Elizabeth Salas, MPH, Teratology Information Specialist, MotherToBaby California If you are feeling anxious during your pregnancy, you’re not alone. It seems every year there are more articles and news stories on the latest health hazards. Whether you read it online or in a medical journal, hear it on the news or from friends and family, there’s no shortage of information on health concerns. This seems especially true during pregnancy. Having …
Flare-ups Fueling Fears During Pregnancy? Stop In The Name Of Psoriasis!
By Patricia Olney, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor & Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby Georgia Emily’s call to MotherToBaby came in late at night. Her voicemail message sounded a bit garbled, almost as if she had been crying. I returned her call the next day and heard her anxious voice say, “My psoriasis flared up last week…it’s been several years. I’m really worried because I just found out I’m pregnant.” I replied calmly, “Emily, I’m glad you called MotherToBaby for information. …
For Women With MS: Making Decisions About Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & More
By Elizabeth Salas, MPH, Teratology Information Specialist, MotherToBaby California If you have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, where do you go when you have questions about MS or MS treatments? In this day and age, the first place you might go is the Internet. With no shortage of information at our fingertips, it may seem the answers to all of our questions are just a web search away. But when it comes to chronic conditions and …
IBD, Pregnancy, and The Burning Question: ‘Will My Baby Be O.K.?’
By Beth Kiernan, MPH, Interviewer & Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby “I just found out I’m pregnant, and while I am glad, I’m also pretty overwhelmed,” lamented Marian, a never-pregnant, newly-married woman who had struggled with Crohn’s disease since her teenage years but was finally in semi-remission. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable taking my medications now, even though my doctors say they are fine. I can’t even sleep! I am worried I’m harming my baby. I wonder if there will …
