If you are researching prenatal vitamins, we are guessing that you might be considering a pregnancy, or you just found out that you are pregnant. How exciting! We’re also guessing that you have some questions. Pregnancy does that to a woman: it makes us start questioning the safety of everything that we used to take for granted. At MotherToBaby, we answer many types of questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But hands down, the most common question I’m asked about involves …
The Baby Blog: Vitamins & Supplements
Preventing Birth Defects: Is it Possible? Yes!
January is Birth Defects Prevention Month, and it’s a great time to remind ourselves that there are several things that pregnant women can do to reduce their chance of having a baby with a birth defect. Our 5 tips for preventing birth defects include: Book a visit with your healthcare provider before stopping or starting any medicine.Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.Before you get pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight.Become up to date with all vaccines, …
Birth Defects Prevention Month Series: Making Medication Decisions in Pregnancy Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely
By Ginger Nichols, Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor at MotherToBaby Connecticut With Birth Defects Prevention Month in full swing, it’s time to focus on Tip #2 for Preventing Birth Defects: Booking a visit with your health care provider before stopping or starting any medicine. Callers to MotherToBaby often wonder why it’s important to talk with their health care provider before stopping or starting a medication. My most recent caller to MotherToBaby asked this very question. Maria …
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 …
Natural Remedies, Fertility and Lead: An All Too Common Mix
By Kurt Martinuzzi, MD, Asst. Professor in the Dept of Ob/Gyn at Emory University and Claire D. Coles, PhD, MotherToBaby Georgia Director Aryan* and Shanaya had been married for two years and very much wanted to start a family. When they were not successful at getting pregnant, they were tested for fertility (all tests came back as normal) and months of expensive medical treatments were tried without success. Emotionally and financially spent, the couple sought the counsel of friends and …
