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 …
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Podcast: Ep. 86: Folic Acid Facts & Fiction: What Every Parent Should Know – with Dr. Elisabeth Marnik (@ScienceWhizLiz)
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 …
Podcast: Ep. 85: Radiation & Breastfeeding: Understanding the Risks and Realities
In this episode of the MotherToBaby Podcast, host and genetic counselor Chris Stallman welcomes Dr. Emily Caffrey, a certified health physicist at the Health Physics Society and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Together, they dive into one of the most frequently asked topics: how radiation exposure may impact breastfeeding. Dr. Caffrey explains the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, details how imaging procedures like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs interact with …
Baby Blog: Nailing Down the Facts: Nail Treatment Safety in Pregnancy
By Al Romeo, RN, PhD, MotherToBaby Utah If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you might wonder if it is safe for you to go to the nail salon. After all, there are chemicals in nail treatments, and (let’s face it) nail salons often smell like they could be toxic! But are they? What’s in nail treatments? And could they be harmful if I’m pregnant or nursing? Common nail products include nail polish and types of acrylic nails including gels, liquids, and powders. There are a few ingredients that …
Baby Blog: The Pain of Pregnancy: Can Massage or Acupuncture Safely Help?
By Bethany Kotlar, MPH, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby Georgia Anyone who has been pregnant knows it’s no walk in the park. From the intense nausea, vomiting, and strange cravings of the first trimester, to all the aches and pains of the third trimester, carrying a baby can feel like a marathon! It’s no wonder pregnant women look high and low for any form of relief. Two questions we are asked frequently here at MotherToBaby are-“Can I get a massage?” and “Is acupuncture safe …

