Understanding Critical Periods in PregnancyKendra, newly pregnant at approximately 7 weeks along, contacted MotherToBaby late one afternoon with a question that had been causing her a lot of anxiety. Norovirus was running rampant in her home, and she was feeling extremely nauseous. Having found relief with it before, she explained that she had taken a single dose of Zofran (ondansetron) early that morning. She was certain this drug was ok to take during pregnancy, but after searching online, she …
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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.
Meeting Dietary Requirements as a Pregnant Vegetarian
In recent years, plant-based diets have become more and more popular. People choose to go vegetarian for a variety of reasons including health benefits, sustainability concerns, and ethical motivations. Whatever the reason, this type of diet can be healthy and nutritionally adequate, even during the reproductive years. However, during pregnancy, a bit of planning may be required to make sure the developing baby is getting all the nutrition necessary from a plant-based mom.First, let’s talk about …
Keeping Your Cool during Pregnancy When Fire Season Heats Up
By Kirstie Perrotta, MPH and Sonia Alvarado, MotherToBaby California With wildfires seemingly becoming a year-round problem, pregnant women have more questions than ever before about exposure to smoke and lingering poor air quality. Understanding the possible risks from a fire during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can help people make informed decisions when the unthinkable happens. Here are some commonly asked questions we receive at MotherToBaby about wildfires. Q. What is in the air from …
Managing Mom’s Anxiety during Pregnancy
“I’m worried. I can’t sleep. It’s anxiety.” The message came through from Natalie a few minutes after I had logged onto our live chat service at MotherToBaby.org. “I’m 14 weeks pregnant and concerned about taking a SSRI” she continued. As a Teratogen Information Specialist, I answer questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding on a daily basis, and I was happy to chat with Natalie about this topic. Natalie had just returned from a visit to her OB/GYN’s office where she was …
Asking Questions That Count When Considering Adoption
By Kirstie Perrotta, MPH, MotherToBaby California Cara and her husband Mark were contacting MotherToBaby for the first time. “Our adoption counselor just called - we have been matched with a potential birth mom this morning and she’s due next Friday!” Cara blurted out excitedly. “The counselor said you would be able to tell us about the baby’s exposure to heroin and Klonopin. I don’t know how much she used, or when she stopped. We need to make a decision today.” As a Teratogen Information …
