Last year I was pregnant with my first child. At the same time, I was going through the immigration process to apply for permanent residency in the United States. I wasn’t aware of the many things that you must do to get your health records cleared by immigration and how that process can be a great source of anxiety during pregnancy. If you are an immigrant, you may not have health insurance or cannot understand the language, which can be another challenge. In order to have sound and …
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.
Breastfeeding: Treating Cough and Cold Symptoms
Baby it’s cold outside…and ‘tis the season for MotherToBaby to answer questions about cough and cold medications while breastfeeding. Some “Cold” Hard Facts Factors such as your baby’s age and whether they were born prematurely or have chronic health problems matter. Very young babies (less than 3 months old) may have a more difficult time metabolizing medications in the milk and may be more susceptible to side effects like sleepiness. Milk is also their complete diet, …
That Bites! Rattlesnakes and Pregnancy
At MotherToBaby we receive all kinds of questions about exposures during pregnancy. Most often, we teratogen information specialists get similar questions no matter what state or part of the country we work in. Commonly-asked questions cover topics like medications, supplements, and alcohol. We also get questions about less common exposures too, such as someone taking their pet’s medication or a chemical spill in the workplace. Working in Arizona, I sometimes get questions that specialists in …
Fact or Myth? From One Latina Mom to Another
Let’s face it, being pregnant can be hard, having a baby is without a doubt hard, and taking care of a newborn might be even harder, especially if it's your first. Even when it feels like you are doing a great job, there is always someone who can’t stop suggesting ways to make things better. Think about it, I am sure you have heard… “If you do this ________, your baby will sleep through the night.” “I had 4 kids and that has never happened to me…” “You need to stop drinking coffee if …
Kids, Pregnancy, and the Latest on COVID-19 Vaccines
By Kirstie Perrotta, MPH, MotherToBaby California and Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, MPH, MotherToBaby North Carolina With schools back in full swing, fall activities underway, and children gathered once again in classrooms and other indoor settings, parents—including those who are pregnant—have renewed questions about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. MotherToBaby is seeing an increase in questions from pregnant women who want to protect themselves and their families as much as possible. Although …
