January is Birth Defects Prevention Month, and it’s a great time to remind ourselves that there are several things that pregnant women can do to reduce their chance of having a baby with a birth defect. Our 5 tips for preventing birth defects include: Book a visit with your healthcare provider before stopping or starting any medicine.Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.Before you get pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight.Become up to date with all vaccines, …
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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.
Zoloft and Pregnancy: Battling the Holiday Blues
The holiday season was in full swing when Katie found out she was pregnant. She called me and wanted to know if she could continue to take Zoloft (or sertraline), the medication she was prescribed to treat her depression. The idea of coming off of the medication scared Katie, just as much as the idea of taking something that could affect her baby did. Katie also had been feeling a bit more exhausted and down than usual, possibly due to both her pregnancy and to a case of the holiday blues. ‘Tis …
Vaping during Pregnancy: Not Just a Bunch of Smoke
If you have listened to the news lately, you have probably heard of the outbreak of lung injuries and related deaths associated with e-cigarettes and vaping products. Breaking news by health experts have reported that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was present in most of the samples of the products and lung tissue collected from the injured individuals, but Vitamin E acetate was present in all of the samples that have been tested to date. While this is a major breakthrough, the experts are not ready …
Cancer Diagnosis in Pregnancy: You Have Options
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine who is in her second trimester of pregnancy, called me in a panic. Due to her recent medical history, it was recommended that she get an MRI in addition to her yearly mammogram as a way to screen for breast cancer. She, like many women who have the same question, was relieved and grateful to get this information. She then asked, “do women get diagnosed with cancer in pregnancy? Can they be treated?” What We Know about Cancer in Pregnancy Yes, cancer …
Moldy Milk: How to Avoid Breastmilk Contamination When Pumping
We have all heard that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby because you can bond with your child and give them the best nutrients and immunity for lifelong health. Besides that, breastfeeding helps moms stay healthy by getting you back to pre-pregnancy weight faster, preventing breast and ovarian cancer, and ensuring heart health. However, sometimes putting baby on the breast is easier said than done – not all moms can breastfeed in the traditional sense of holding your baby to the …
