Holiday festivities sometimes include eating foods and drinks that might not be part of our everyday diet. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, we need to give a little more thought to what we should eat and drink. “Is it ok for the baby?” often goes through our minds during these times. As a teratogen information specialist at MotherToBaby who answers a lot of the questions we get via our texting service (855-999-3525), these types of questions ramp up during this time of year! So, here’s some …
The Baby Blog: Alcohol
Cocaine
What is cocaine? Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Cocaine can be used medically as a local anesthetic (pain killer), mostly used for nasal and eye surgery. It has also been misused recreationally. Cocaine can be inhaled through the nose, rubbed onto the gums, injected or smoked. Some nicknames for cocaine are: blow, coke, crack, rock and snow. I just found out that I am pregnant. Should I stop using cocaine? If you have been taking …
Episode 24: Kombucha in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
A healthcare provider calls into The MotherToBaby Podcast after seeing an increase in the number of questions her pregnant patients are having surrounding the consumption of kombucha in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The popular drink contains a variety of ingredients and Lorrie Harris Sagaribay, MPH, joins host Chris Stallman, CGC, to break it all down for listeners. …
Cigarette Smoke
This sheet talks about exposure to cigarette smoke in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is in cigarette smoke? Cigarette smoke is made of gases and very tiny particles that are released when cigarettes are burned. It has over 4,000 compounds including nicotine, tar, arsenic, lead, and carbon monoxide. When you breathe the cigarette smoke into your lungs, the gases and particles get …
Alcohol
This sheet talks about exposure to alcohol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is alcohol? Alcohol, ethanol and ethyl alcohol are all names for the ingredient in beer, wine, or hard liquor that gives an intoxicating effect to the drinker. The same amount of alcohol is found in a standard serving of beer (12 ounces), wine (4-5 ounces), or hard liquor (1.5 ounces). I drink alcohol. …
