Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience

What happens when a researcher studying pregnancy becomes a patient navigating her own autoimmune diagnosis? In this powerful episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, genetic counselor Chris Stallman, CGC, sits down with Dr. Christina Longo, Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and perinatal epidemiologist, to discuss her lived experience managing rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dr. Longo shares how her first diagnosis during pregnancy reshaped her research focus—from child outcomes to the importance of maternal health, mental wellbeing, and self-advocacy. She opens up about the difficult decisions she faced around medication safety, breastfeeding, and treatment during pregnancy, and how patient-led communities and research studies helped her find strength and clarity.



Listeners will learn:

  • How autoimmune diseases can change during pregnancy and postpartum
  • Why controlled treatment plans matter before conception
  • The emotional and physical toll of navigating chronic illness while pregnant
  • The importance of participating in pregnancy studies to improve care for future parents

Whether you’re living with a chronic condition, supporting someone who is, or counseling patients through pregnancy, this episode sheds light on the urgent need for research, empathy, and balanced care for both parent and baby.

🔗 Learn more or join a pregnancy study.

    💡 Have questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
    You can contact MotherToBaby for free, confidential, evidence-based information:
    📞 Call: 866-626-6847
    📱 Text: 855-999-3525
    💻 Visit: https://mothertobaby.org/

    Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience

    How do public health experts detect emerging risks to pregnancies before they become widespread crises? In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, genetic counselor, mom of four, and teratogen information specialist, sits down with Dr. Amanda Elmore, Assistant Professor of Maternal & Child Health at the University of South Florida, to explore the powerful role of birth defect surveillance.

    Dr. Elmore shares how her career in public health began during the Zika virus epidemic—reviewing medical records of exposed infants to help the CDC understand the real-world impact of in-utero exposure. She explains how surveillance systems track structural and functional birth anomalies, serve as early warning systems for new and emerging exposures, and shape everything from clinical care and referral services to national public health policy.



    The conversation also dives into:

    • How surveillance led to rapid public health responses during the Zika crisis
    • What neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) reveals about opioid exposure during pregnancy
    • The push for real-time data using electronic medical records and health information exchanges
    • How machine learning and natural language processing may transform how cases are identified
    • Why a life-course perspective matters for children born with birth defects
    • How surveillance data supports funding, prevention efforts, and long-term family services

    Dr. Elmore also shares her vision for the future: a more standardized, timely, and integrated national system that can better support prevention, research, and lifelong care for affected children and families.

    This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how data quietly powers some of the most important protections for moms and babies.

    💡 Have questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
    You can contact MotherToBaby for free, confidential, evidence-based information:
    📞 Call: 866-626-6847
    📱 Text: 855-999-3525
    💻 Visit: https://mothertobaby.org/

    Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience

    Helping Your Pregnant and Breastfeeding Clients Make Informed Decisions

    For many women, doulas play an important role in the pregnancy and postpartum journey. As you support your clients during this time of enormous change in their lives, you’re probably fielding a lot of questions from them. When those questions are about how pregnancy and/or breastfeeding could be impacted by exposures in your client’s environment – such as the medications they may need to take, illnesses they may contract, vaccines they may be advised to receive, foods or beverages they consume, substances they use, or exposures in their workplace  – that’s when you and your clients can turn to MotherToBaby. 

    We’re the nation’s leading authority and most trusted source of evidence-based information on exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Our experts provide this resource at no-cost and without judgment, and our services are confidential and patient-centered. Our goal is to help pregnant and breastfeeding moms understand the benefit/risk of an exposure for them and for their baby so they can make an informed decision.

    We can help by:

    • Encouraging your clients to speak with their healthcare providers about immunizations that may be recommended during this specific period of their life, such as seasonal influenza, RSV, COVID-19, and Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis). 
    • Not only helping your clients understand their exposures but also supporting conversations they may want to have with their healthcare provider about these exposures.
    • Assisting your clients who are living with chronic health conditions to plan for how health conditions and their treatments could impact the birth and the postpartum period, ensuring their questions around safety are addressed.  

    Whatever environmental exposure your client has questions about, we are here to provide evidence-based information to help them understand how that exposure could affect their pregnancy or their breastfed baby. 

    Doula support during pregnancy, birth, and during the postpartum period has been shown to be an effective best practice that can enhance the birthing experience, reduce complications, and improve outcomes for women and infants.

    — Knocke et al., 2022

    LactRx App

    If you’re working with a patient who is breastfeeding or plans to breastfeed, download our LactRx app for on-the-go access to information on exposures about which breastfeeding mothers may have questions.

    Our Resources

    Explore how we can help you and your pregnant and breastfeeding clients by providing no-cost exposure risk assessments, patient education materials, observational studies to monitor pregnancy outcomes, and more.

    Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience

    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 prevention to busting social media myths like “folic acid causes tongue ties” or “MTHFR mutations mean folic acid isn’t safe,” this episode is packed with science-backed insights and practical guidance for both healthcare providers and future parents alike.



    🧠 Key Topics Covered:

    • What folic acid is and why it matters for pregnancy
    • The difference between folic acid and folate
    • When folic acid is most critical (hint: before you know you’re pregnant!)
    • Myths and misinformation about folic acid—especially on social media
    • What the research really says about MTHFR gene mutations
    • How to support patients with dietary restrictions or supplement concerns
    • Why more folic acid is not always better

    👩‍⚕️ Guest Bio:
    Dr. Elisabeth Marnik is a biomedical scientist with a PhD from Tufts University and The Jackson Laboratory, where she studied immune system function, autoimmune disease, and vaccine response. She’s also a passionate science communicator who makes complex topics clear and relatable for thousands of followers as @ScienceWhizLiz on Instagram.

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    💬 Have a Question or Topic Idea?
    We’d love to hear from you! Email us at contactus@mothertobaby.org.

    📱 Subscribe & Listen On:
    Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Audible | iHeartRadio | Or wherever you get your podcasts

    💛 Support Our Work:
    Help us keep this podcast free and accessible. Join our monthly giving community, Encircle, to support parents and families with trusted pregnancy and breastfeeding information. Learn more at MotherToBaby.org/Donate

    Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience

    Recognizing the People Who Help Our Community Thrive

    At the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), we are grateful for the dedicated professionals who help advance our mission of providing trusted, science-based information. This page celebrates members who go above and beyond in their service, and honors those we have lost whose dedication left a lasting impact on our organization and the families we support.

    Outstanding Member Recognition

    Each Quarter, OTIS celebrates members who have been nominated by their peers for their exceptional teamwork, service, and commitment to the field of teratology. These members help strengthen our programs, support colleagues, and improve the quality of care we provide.

    Below are our 2025 Outstanding Member honorees. Additional honorees will be added in December 2025

    2025 Honorees

    Angela Messer, MS

    Angela is recognized for her energy, creativity, and strong support across multiple OTIS and MotherToBaby programs. She:

    • Coordinates MotherToBaby Fact Sheets, including updates, translations, and NLM submissions.
    • Oversees the MotherToBaby Chat service, including training, schedules, and troubleshooting.
    • Contributes actively to the Membership Committee and the Marketing & Website Committee.
    • Helps identify and support student presenters for OTIS Seminars.

    Angela’s enthusiasm and problem-solving skills make her an incredible asset to our organization.

    — From her nominator

    Christianne (Chrissy) Senechal, MS

    Chrissy is honored for her compassion, teamwork, and willingness to step into leadership when needed. She:

    • Helped manage MotherToBaby CT operations during a leadership absence while also completing a full-time genetic counseling graduate program.
    • Actively offers and requests support to ensure families receive timely, evidence-based information.
    • Communicates with warmth, empathy, and professionalism.

    Chrissy’s positivity and commitment shine through in every interaction, and she is already an important part of the OTIS/MotherToBaby community.

    — From her nominator

    Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, MPH

    Lorrie is recognized for her leadership, thoughtfulness, and commitment to professional growth within the TIS community. She:

    • Approaches every counseling interaction with fairness, compassion, and respect for all perspectives.
    • Created and led a small counselor meeting to support learning and engagement.
    • Shares timely updates on emerging topics — such as COVID-19 and Zika — to keep specialists informed.

    Lorrie inspired the idea for this recognition program. She is knowledgeable, kind, and consistently puts the needs of families first.

    — From her nominator

    Sharon Lavigne, MS, LCGC

    Sharon’s leadership at MotherToBaby CT has strengthened connections across UConn Health and expanded access to evidence-based exposure counseling. She:

    • Built strong partnerships with reproductive health, genetics, occupational medicine, maternal mental health, and neurology services.
    • Uses her background as a genetic counselor to educate colleagues across New England and beyond about MotherToBaby’s services.
    • Teaches an online graduate course in embryology and teratology and helps train future genetic counselors, MFM fellows, and OB/GYN residents.
    • Supports patients navigating mental health concerns by connecting them to trusted local and national resources.
    • Leads culturally responsive outreach to Native American communities and helped develop tailored educational materials for tribal families.

    Sharon’s dedication to education, collaboration, and culturally informed care is making a meaningful difference for families and providers.

    — From her nominator

    Sonia Alvarado

    Sonia Alvarado is recognized for embracing every responsibility with remarkable enthusiasm and professionalism. She:

    • Supervises the MotherToBaby Chat operations, ensuring smooth workflow and high-quality services.
    • Proactively developing new educational tools that enhance health education efforts and improve the quality of information provided.
    • Consistently demonstrates dedication and a collaborative approach in her work, contributing positively to her team and the organization.

    Sonia’s initiative, reliability, and collaborative spirit have made a meaningful impact on our team and the organization as a whole.

    — From her nominator

    Sura Alwan, MSc, PhD

    Sura is recognized for consistently demonstrating a commitment to the highest good of our organization and those we serve. She:

    • Exhibited professionalism and thoughtfulness in providing an expert OTIS webinar on SSRIs and pregnancy during a critical time.
    • Recently founded a non-profit organization, the PEAR-Net Society, to provide an ongoing home for the TERIS database.
    • Takes on significant tasks of logistical planning for an upcoming OTIS annual meeting in her hometown of Vancouver.
    • Contributes time and valuable input on the OTIS board and multiple committees.

    Sura is a brilliant researcher and engaging presenter, she also exudes a calm, friendly energy that puts her colleagues at ease and encourages collaboration. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from Sura, and for her friendship.

    — From her nominator

    In Memoriam

    Honoring Members We Have Lost

    We remember OTIS members whose work and compassion helped shape our organization. Their contributions live on through the families, students, and colleagues they supported.

    Vincent T. Armenti, MD, PhD

    Dr. Vincent Armenti was a respected transplant surgeon and the founder of the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR). His work created essential guidance for transplant recipients planning their families and continues to influence clinical care today. Dr. Armenti’s scientific leadership and compassion remain an inspiration to the OTIS and MotherToBaby community.

    Vincent welcomed me with kindness and treated me as an equal. I’ll always remember how gracious and encouraging he was.

    — From his nominator

    Gerald (Jerry) G. Briggs, BPharm, FCCP

    Gerald G. Briggs was a nationally recognized clinical pharmacologist whose lifelong contributions significantly advanced the understanding of medication used during pregnancy and lactation. He co-authored Diseases, Complications and Drug Therapy in Obstetrics with Michael Nageotte and Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk with Sumner Yaffe and Roger Freeman, Cragi Towers, Alicia Forinash and Carrie Brusseau to support health professionals in the safe treatment of pregnant women with chronic conditions. Recognizing that medication safety in pregnancy required stronger evidence base, he became deeply involved in research organizations including OTIS, ENTIS, and the Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention. His legacy continues to guide the field, improve clinical practices, and enhance the health of women and children. 

    During his tenure at LBMMC, Jerry published over 60 articles, chapters and periodical as well as two books. He received frequent inquires about the safety of medications used in pregnancy or during lactations. He realized then that there was a huge gap in the availability of safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding exposures.

    — From a written tribute

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    Ep. 95 – Pregnancy, Rheumatoid Arthritis & Resilience
    May 6, 2026    		 page {PAGENO} of {PAGETOTAL}