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: Mom's Health Conditions
The Day the World Went Dark: A Personal Account of Miscarriage, Abortion and Ectopic Pregnancy
by Sarah Obican, MD, MotherToBaby PresidentThough I wish I didn’t remember the day well, I do. I was a maternal fetal medicine fellow in NYC and I was sitting with my two beautiful co-fellows. When I say my co-fellows were beautiful, I mean that inside and out. We were an odd pairing of three musketeers. Young, bright, professional women, training to take care of women with high-risk pregnancies… and all three of us were pregnant. It was completely unplanned and highly unusual for all three of …
Air Pollution, Allergies, and Asthma – When Breathing during Pregnancy Is Difficult
The air we breathe matters and often we do not have control over what is in it. For many, the Spring season brings beautiful flowers and a most welcome warming of temperatures, as well as spending more time outside. It also marks the explosion of pollen, which can irritate both those with allergies and people with asthma. Being outside to engage in outdoor activities also means we are exposed to any air pollution that may be present.Pregnancy is a sensitive time for both the parent and the …
Am I Pregnant?
Carrie called MotherToBaby on a Monday morning. She sounded anxious. “I just got home from a pretty wild bachelorette party held last week in New Orleans. I started feeling nauseous on the plane and I have thrown up twice this morning. I couldn’t eat breakfast. I’m really tired and my breasts hurt a little. I’m worried I might be pregnant.” Carrie was wondering if we could help her figure out if she was pregnant or not. Although MotherToBaby mainly answers questions about medications and other …
Battling Obesity Ahead of Pregnancy is ‘Beautifully Individual’
The year of the pandemic has not been easy. It has left most doctors and essential workers drained from the added stress. But I just got off a telehealth visit (sadly, a part of my new normal) with my long-standing patient and I am so excited! My patient (and myself) has struggled to lose weight for most of her life, but considering some of her chronic medical conditions, she was so motivated to lose weight prior to her pregnancy. I am so ecstatic because I love my patient! My patient, beautiful …
