Being pregnant can be stressful enough without worrying all the time about things like “can I bake with poppy seeds?” Or “can I drink tea with peppermint?” Recently I had a caller tell me that “it seems like every time I turn around, there is something else that either I should not cook with or drink in a tea during pregnancy. What about when I am breastfeeding? Help!” As a specialist who answers questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, I hear these kinds of questions all …
The Baby Blog: Vitamins & Supplements
Calcium Carbonate
This sheet is about exposure to calcium carbonate in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is calcium carbonate? Calcium carbonate is a dietary supplement. Calcium carbonate has been used as an antacid to help symptoms of heartburn, acid indigestion, or upset stomach. Some examples of over-the-counter antacids with calcium carbonate are Tums®, Rolaids®, Maalox®, and Mylanta®. The …
Iodine
This sheet is about exposure to iodine in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers. What is iodine? Iodine is a naturally occurring element. Our body needs iodine for our thyroid gland to work properly. Iodine can be found in some foods, nutritional supplements, medications, and topical disinfectants. People who are pregnant or nursing need more iodine. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for …
Echinacea Preparations
This sheet is about exposure to Echinacea preparations in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers. What is echinacea? Echinacea is an herb that comes from the roots, stem, and leaves of the plant Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower). Dried roots of Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida are also used. The type of active ingredients can vary widely. The amount and strength of the active …
Powered by Plants: Vegetarian and Vegan Diets in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Maya has been a healthy, happy vegan since she was a teenager. Now, at age 25 and pregnant for the first time, she is suddenly worried and uncertain about whether she can provide all the nutrients her developing baby needs if she continues to follow her vegan diet during pregnancy. She contacted us at MotherToBaby looking for answers. Maya’s question is not unusual, but since it’s a bit outside our area of expertise, I enlisted the help of an expert in maternal nutrition to help answer …
