By Beth Kiernan, MPH, Interviewer & Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby Kristin called MotherToBaby one afternoon saying, “I just took a home pregnancy test and it’s positive.” Kristin sounded beyond worried. “I’ve been taking a medication for ADHD since I was eight years old, and when I searched the internet it said it was harmful and that I should stop taking it before getting pregnant.” Kristin hadn’t planned on getting pregnant. Now, not only was she terrified she had hurt …
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.
Microblading in Pregnancy: What to Know before ‘Going under the Needle’
By Angela Messer, MS, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby California “I love the way my eyebrows look!” Emily just found out she was 6 weeks pregnant, and had started the process of microblading (a cosmetic tattooing technique, in which a tool made of small needles is used to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin; resembling the hair on the brow) before she knew she was pregnant. Logging into the MotherToBaby chat for some guidance, after online searching resulted in mixed answers, …
A Mother’s Day Memo: ‘Excited To Be A Mom, But Please Excuse Me If I Hurl’
By Lynn Martinez, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby Utah “O.K., so I can’t look at pizza the same way. Saltine crackers seem to be my go-to snack for sustenance and don’t even SAY the word ‘curry!’ Oh no, I said it… Please excuse me while I hurl,” said Nicole, 34, who’s pregnant with her second child. For many of the moms I counseled as a teratogen information specialist with the international non-profit, MotherToBaby, this is part of the reality of becoming a mom – nausea and …
FDA Pregnancy Risk Categories: Going Away for Good
By Lynn Martinez and Julia Robertson, CPM During the more than 40 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 Food and Drug Administration (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 …
Nailing Down the Facts: Nail Treatment Safety in Pregnancy
By Al Romeo, RN, PhD, MotherToBaby Utah If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you might wonder if it is safe for you to go to the nail salon. After all, there are chemicals in nail treatments, and (let’s face it) nail salons often smell like they could be toxic! But are they? What’s in nail treatments? And could they be harmful if I’m pregnant or nursing? Common nail products include nail polish and types of acrylic nails including gels, liquids, and powders. There are a few ingredients that …
