Tanya called in on a Monday morning. “I’m getting married in a few months and we want to start trying to get pregnant right away. What should I be doing now to have the best chance of a healthy baby?” Preconception health and pregnancy planning present a terrific opportunity to assess a wide range of factors that can give your baby the best start. This blog will outline the things to consider, as I relayed to Tanya: Your Personal Health Are you generally healthy? If you already get …
The Baby Blog: Mom's Health Conditions
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 …
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 …
Empowering Moms this Mother’s Day and Every Day: Making the Most of Prenatal Appointments
By Lauren Kozlowski, MSW, MPH, MotherToBaby Georgia “I didn’t even know I should ask my OB about that!” It’s a reaction I hear almost daily as a teratogen information specialist (a fancy way of saying I’ve been trained in evaluating and communicating risks of exposures, like medications, during pregnancy). This particular caller’s reaction was like so many women going into their first appointment after finding out they were pregnant – she really didn’t know how to be her own best advocate. I …
Birth Defects Prevention Month Series: Planning a pregnancy? It is never too soon to reach a healthy weight!
By Lori Wolfe, CGC, MotherToBaby North Texas Nicole called me in tears. She had been trying to become pregnant for the past nine months and was not having any luck. She asked if it could be due to being overweight. As I talked with Nicole, I found out she is about 100 pounds over a healthy weight for her height. As a MotherToBaby specialist, I often talk with women who are trying to become pregnant. It just so happened this question came along as I was reviewing tips for January’s Birth Defects …