On March 3, join MotherToBaby, March of Dimes and dozens of organizations around the world for a World Birth Defects Day Twitter Chat. Ask questions about birth defects, pregnancy health and more. Include the hashtag #WorldBDDay in every tweet to take part!

In the last few weeks, MotherToBaby, a service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), has received a very large number of requests for our services from Canadian residents following the recent closing of the Motherisk service in Toronto. At the present time, we do not have sufficient numbers of MothertoBaby Specialists on staff to handle this extraordinary increase in requests for information. We hope that service to Canadians will be offered again in the near future. In the meantime, if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, please reach out to your healthcare provider with any questions you might have or refer to our fact sheets located at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/.

En las últimas semanas, MotherToBaby, un servicio de la Organización de Especialistas en Información de Teratología, ha recibido un gran número de solicitudes de residentes canadienses luego del cierre del servicio Motherisk en Toronto. En la actualidad, no tenemos suficiente especialistas de MothertoBaby para contestar este aumento extraordinario en las solicitudes de información. Esperamos que el servicio a los canadienses se ofrezca nuevamente en el futuro cercano. Mientras tanto, si está embarazada, planea un embarazo o está amamantando, comuníquese con su proveedor de salud si tiene alguna pregunta o consulte nuestras hojas informativas que se encuentran en https://mothertobaby.org/es/hojas-informativas/.

In case you missed it, MotherToBaby teratogen information specialist Dee Quinn, MS, CGC, presented “Update on Zika Infections in Pregnancy” on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. The webinar was hosted by the National Society of Genetic Counselors, a MotherToBaby partner.  A recording of the webinar is now available. It is free and open to the public and can be seen at the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2700973782242097665

MotherToBaby teratogen information specialist Dee Quinn, MS, CGC, will present “Update on Zika Infections in Pregnancy” on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 11a Pacific/1p Central/ 2p Eastern. The webinar is hosted by the National Society of Genetic Counselors, a MotherToBaby partner.
It is free and open to the public, but registration is required at the following link:
http://bit.ly/Zika2Webinar

Many women have questions about exposure to pesticides during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The Pesticide Use Safety Tips sheet from MotherToBaby and the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center provides practical guidance to reduce pesticide exposure indoors and outdoors. Tips include reading labels carefully, wearing protective clothing, ventilating indoor spaces, and avoiding treated areas as directed. It also covers proper use of pesticides (insect repellents and insecticides) on the body, such as following directions for application, how often to apply, and when to wash off. Following these safety practices helps protect your health and your baby’s well-being.

If you have questions about specific pesticides in your home, environment, or workplace, please contact MotherToBaby for a personalized risk assessment.