One of the most common Zika-related questions we get at MotherToBaby is, “What is the risk of Zika if I travel to Country X?” Or, a variation of the same: “We just got back from Country X. Do we really need to wait 3 months before we try to get pregnant?” Back when the Zika epidemic was sweeping the western hemisphere, answering these travel-related questions was fairly straightforward. It was easier to know where there was a risk for Zika infection as governments and public health …
The Baby Blog: Infections & Vaccines
The Return of Measles
Lately, it seems like every few months a new infectious disease makes the headlines. The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the news cycle for some time, but as more and more people get vaccinated and the number of severe cases starts to decrease, the media’s focus has shifted to other known or emerging threats. From the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), to mpox and syphilis, infections seem to be spreading like wildfire. Most recently, measles has made yet another comeback, prompting many …
Top Tips For A Holly Jolly Pregnancy This Season
I can’t begin to describe how organized I was during the holiday season when I was pregnant with my first child. Since I was pretty far along (5 months), I wanted to make sure each gift was chosen way ahead of time, I knew how long it would take me to get the food trimmings just right and whether I should emphasize red or green in my decorating scheme. All of this had to be done before that “pregnancy brain” I had heard so much about set-in. Little did I know, the most important items on my …
Another Vaccine In Pregnancy? Yes, and Here’s Why That’s Good News!
You may have heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended a new vaccine for use in the third trimester of pregnancy. Known as AbrysvoTM, the vaccine helps protect newborns against severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States, with anywhere from 58,000-80,000 hospitalizations occurring each year among children younger than 5. Even more upsetting is that 100-300 children under age …
Special Edition Baby Blog: What Do All the Colors Mean? Zika, Pregnancy & Travel in a Post-Epidemic World
Back when Zika swept the western hemisphere, the travel recommendations for women who were pregnant or planning a pregnancy were clear: avoid any areas that had a risk of Zika infection. It was fairly easy to know where those areas were, as governments and public health organizations around the world worked tirelessly to identify and report cases. World maps showing areas of risk provided clear “yes/no” guidance. Was there any doubt about who shouldn’t travel where? Not really. Not back …
