What happens when epilepsy meets pregnancy planning? In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, MS, CGC—a genetic counselor, mom of four, and teratogen information specialist—talks with Dr. Kristi McIntosh from the University of British Columbia. Dr. McIntosh shares her powerful personal and professional journey—from being diagnosed with epilepsy at age ten to navigating fertility challenges, medication changes, and high-risk pregnancies. As both a scientist and a …
Podcasts
About Our Podcasts
Host Chris Stallman, a mom-of-four, genetic counselor, and MotherToBaby information specialist, answers your burning questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Chris and her guest experts take listeners’ questions and do a deep dive to offer insight into the safety and risk of many different types of exposures that a pregnant or breastfeeding person may experience.
Disclaimer: MotherToBaby provides information for educational purposes only. Our podcast episodes do not provide individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Ep. 88 – ADHD in Pregnancy: Medication Decisions, Daily Functioning & Finding Support
Managing ADHD during pregnancy can feel overwhelming—especially when juggling appointments, medications, mood changes, and everyday life. In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, genetic counselor and teratogen information specialist Chris Stallman, CGC sits down with returning guest Dr. Christy Pratt, a pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, for an in-depth, practical conversation about ADHD in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Together, they discuss: Key takeaway: “We need a …
Ep. 87: Understanding REMS & Medication Safety in Pregnancy: What Patients & Providers Need to Know
Concerned about medication use during pregnancy? You’re not alone. In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, MS, CGC (genetic counselor, mom of four, teratogen information specialist) sits down with Dr. Judy C. Morrow of Harvard Medical School to break down how FDA REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) programs help reduce the risk of birth defects and protect pregnant patients. Together, they discuss:✔️ What REMS programs are and why they exist✔️ How …
Ep. 86: Folic Acid Facts & Fiction: What Every Parent Should Know – with Dr. Elisabeth Marnik (@ScienceWhizLiz)
In this special Folic Acid Awareness Week episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host and genetic counselor Chris Stallman sits down with Dr. Elisabeth Marnik, PhD—a biomedical scientist, mom, and science communicator better known as @ScienceWhizLiz on Instagram. Together, they unpack the science behind folic acid, its critical role in early pregnancy, and why it's one of the most important (yet misunderstood) nutrients for people of childbearing age. From real talk on neural tube defect …
Ep. 85: Radiation & Breastfeeding: Understanding the Risks and Realities
In this episode of the MotherToBaby Podcast, host and genetic counselor Chris Stallman welcomes Dr. Emily Caffrey, a certified health physicist at the Health Physics Society and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Together, they dive into one of the most frequently asked topics: how radiation exposure may impact breastfeeding. Dr. Caffrey explains the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, details how imaging procedures like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs interact with …
