Click here for the Spanish language version of this handout Most midwives in the United States are health care providers who offer services to women of all ages and stages of life. With their advanced education and their focus on research and partnering with women, they are among the most modern, forward-thinking health providers in the United States today. The…
What is skin-to-skin contact (SSC)? Skin-to-skin contact, also called “kangaroo care,” is when your baby is placed on your chest after birth instead of being wrapped in a blanket and placed in a crib or incubator (warmer). How do I have skin-to-skin contact with my baby? Your naked baby should be placed directly on your skin without a blanket or…
By Patricia Markland Cole, MPH, MotherToBaby Massachusetts November is Diabetes Awareness Month and both of my parents in recent years have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (a preventable form of diabetes where the body can no longer control the amount of sugar in the blood), so it’s a particularly relatable month for me. Because “the apple does not fall…
For all that we know about pregnancy problems, we seem to know relatively little about the everyday pregnancy experience. For instance, what changes do women see in their sleeping patterns or energy levels? What unique challenges do women with physical disabilities face in their pregnancies? Researchers are trying to answer these and other questions through a new research project called…
Since whooping cough can be deadly, pregnant women should get vaccinated during their third trimester to help protect their babies. For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/
What We Know Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes. You can also get Zika through sexwithout a condom with someone infected by Zika, even if that person does not show symptoms of Zika. There…
Join 30 Smokefree Days, a 30-day quit smoking event on Facebook providing a built-in community of people like you who want a healthier life! From July 10 to August 9, you’ll get free access to mobile quit apps, tips, “quitspiration” posts, and video streams from experts to help you overcome challenges and meet your goal of becoming smokefree. RSVP at…
Why Choose a Vegetarian Diet? You may choose a vegetarian diet for many reasons. You may not want to harm animals. You may have political reasons for not eating meat. You may feel that not eating meat is healthier. Or you may avoid meat for religious reasons. Is It Possible to Stay Healthy Without Eating Meat? The American Dietetic Association…
By Kristen Hutchinson Spytek, National CMV Foundation President via MotherToBaby C-M-V. Three letters that keep me up at night and shake me to the core. Three letters that have managed to routinely shatter my expectations, body slam my optimism, expose my vulnerability, alter my perspective and even now, force me to recalibrate daily. My daughter, Evelyn Grace, was born on…
By Sonia Alvarado, MotherToBaby California Teratogen Information Specialist Spanish Version I wrote a blog about marijuana and pregnancy three years ago and it’s become the most visited blog on the MotherToBaby website. No surprise, considering that marijuana is an even hotter topic today than it was previously! Three years ago, two states had laws allowing recreational use. Now, 29 states allow medicinal…
Spanish Version What is a urinary tract infection? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in one of the parts of your body where urine is made, stored, or passed out of your body. UTIs are very common in women. About 1 in 2 women will have a UTI in their life. Where can a UTI occur? The urinary…