Diabetes and the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Women who have diabetes are at an increased risk for complications during pregnancy, including increased risk of birth defects or fetal death. These risks can be minimized by planning pregnancy ahead with the help of your obstetrician and primary diabetes care provider.
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World Mourns Thalidomide Champion, Frances Oldham Kelsey
Dr. Kelsey would change the world of pharmaceuticals, and save the lives of untold thousands of babies around the world.
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Antidepressants During Pregnancy
For the pregnant woman on antidepressants, the psychiatrist and the obstetrician can work together to find a suitable treatment that will work with pregnancy and keep baby healthy during gestation.
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Phentermine - Diet, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Phentermine is categorized as category C in pregnancy because it is chemically related to amphetamines, which have been shown to cause miscarriages and birth defects.
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Why is Folic Acid Important for Pregnancy?
What is folic acid and what does it do?
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Anti-Aging Face Creams During Pregnancy
Most anti-aging creams are included on the list of beauty treatments that are considered unsafe to use during pregnancy due to the fact that anti-aging creams often include high doses of vitamin A.
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Birth Defects
Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body.
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The Quad Screen Test
The quad marker screen is a blood test done between 15 and 20 weeks (usually closer to 15 weeks), that will help to recognize the risk of the fetus having certain birth defects.
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Is It Safe to Eat Pate or Liver While Pregnant?
Wondering if it is safe to eat liver or pate during pregnancy? Keep reading!
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Healthy Pregnancy Diet May Reduce Birth Defect Risk
Women who eat healthy during pregnancy are less apt to have children with birth defects, according to new research published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
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Bloom Syndrome
Bloom Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder first recognized and described by Dr. David Bloom. Another name for Bloom Syndrome is Bloom-Torre-Machacek Syndrome.
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Canavan Disease
Canavan Disease is a genetic disorder commonly found in Ashkenazi Jews.
The disease causes a premature breakdown of white matter in the brain.
The disease is associated with chromosome 17.
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Preconconception Vitamins and Folic Acid
Folic acid in combination with a multivitamin supplement has been associated with a decrease in specific birth defects.
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Folic Acid Absorption Affected By Medications
First trimester exposure to certain medications such as folic acid antagonists is associated with increased risk for neural tube, cardiovascular and urinary tract defect.
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What Is Folate and What Is Folic Acid?
What does folic acid do?
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Allergy Shots
Is it safe to receive allergy shots when trying to conceive (TTC) and during pregnancy?
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Can too much Vitamin E hurt my baby?
The RDA for pregnant women is 18 mg of Vitamin E. Recent studies have shown that taking in too much Vitamin E during pregnancy can cause birth defects in children.
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Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy
Aspartame is the artificial sweetener found in NutraSweet, Equal, and most diet soft drinks and other sugar-free treats, and it's considered safe when consumed in moderate amounts.
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Cyclopia: The One-Eyed Baby
Cyclopia is an extremely rare birth defect where the baby is born with one eye or two eyes on the forehead of the baby.
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Phocomelia - Shortened or Absent Arms or Legs
Phocomelia is a congenital disorder that presents with a reduction in length of the long bones of the legs and / or arms.
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Radiation, Flying, and Pregnancy. Is it a problem?
There is no increased risk from radiation when flying in pregnancy.
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Clomiphene (Clomid) During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Clomiphene (Clomid) during pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive (TTC). Is it safe?
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Congenital Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Infants born with a hyper flexibility may be diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The condition is characterized by loose joints and loose connective tissue.
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Marrying a Cousin - Is There An Increased Risk In Pregnancy?
A task force has recently looked into the medical issues of cousin marriage and whether there are increased complications when cousins marry.
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Craniophagus Parasiticus
There have been several famous cases of children being born attached at the head or other part of the body.
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Congenital Hypoplastic (Left Heart Syndrome)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. For the first 10 to 11 days after birth, the patent ductus arteriosus, this closes soon after birth.
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Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot is a combination of four heart defects that are present at birth. Symptoms of the condition include difficulty eating, failure to thrive, no weight gain or weight loss, sudden death or stroke.
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Congenital Duncan’s Disease
The official name of Duncan's Disease is X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. The condition is caused by a malformation of the X chromosome, which means both male and female children can be affected. Specifically, the SH2D1A gene does not exist.
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Congenital Dandy Walker Syndrome
Patients with Dandy Walker Syndrome are diagnosed with a malformation of the brain involving the cerebellum and the space around the cerebellum that is filled with fluid.
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Congenital Hypotonia - Low Muscle Tone
Children born with hypotonia have low muscle tone and lower than average strength. Most children are not born with hypotonia, but develop it as a result of some other disorder or disease.
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Trisomy 13 - Patau Syndrome
Trisomy 13 syndrome is a disorder of human chromosomes which occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 live born infants. Trisomy 13 is due to the presence of an extra #13 chromosome.
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Albinism
Albinism is characterized by a lack of the pigment melanin in skin, hair and eyes. There are two main forms of albinism.
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Congenital Hypertrichosis - Wolf Baby
The conditions manifest as hair growing all over the face and back of the body. This hair is not normal hair, but resembles more closely the fur on an animal's body.
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Indeterminate Sex
When an infant is born with indeterminate sex, the genital organs are not visually male or female.
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Heartburn Medications Not Linked to Birth Defects
Heartburn is a common complication in pregnancy, but researchers say pregnant women should not worry about their effects on the unborn fetus.
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Harlequin-type Ichthyosis
Infants born with Harlequin-type Ichthyosis present with dry, scaly skin creating a diamond pattern on the body. Skin is much thicker than normal and does not bend so severe cracking occurs. When cracks forms, risk of infection increases. Some skin infections associated with Harlequin-type Ichthyosis can be fatal.
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Smoking Linked to Clubfoot and Other Physical Birth Defects
Doctors are constantly reminding pregnant women of the risk factors associated with smoking during pregnancy such as lower birth weight and increased risk of miscarriage. But despite the warnings, there have been no proven physical birth defects associated with smoking, until now.
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Paxil (Paroxetine) During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Paroxetine (Paxil) during pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive (TTC). Is it safe?
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Cleft Lip / Cleft Palate
The term cleft lip or cleft palate refers to a birth defect that affects the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth, known as the palate. In mild cases, the birth defect does not affect eating and can easily be repaired with simple cosmetic surgery.
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Club Foot
Club foot is a physical deformity that develops in-utero. About one
in 1,000 births are affected by the birth defect. Male children are
slightly more prone to the condition than female children.
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The Invisible Face of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the term used to describe a series of birth defects associated with fetal alcohol exposure in utero.
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Fluconazole During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about Fluconazole and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Is it safe to use while pregnant and/or breastfeeding?
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Cool Pregnant Women Have Healthier Pregnancies
According to research completed by QUT (Queensland University of Technology), pregnant women need to stay cool during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy to decrease the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
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Noninvasive Chromosomal Defect Test for Fetus
The current trusted method of testing for chromosomal anomalies in the
fetus involves an invasive procedure where amniotic fluid is drawn from
the amniotic sac and tested. The procedure is expensive and posts risk
of infection and fetal harm.
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome More Complex Than Once Believed
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a series of birth defects associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
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Early Pregnancy Hypertension Increases Birth Defect Risk
A new research study published in the British Medical Journal, claims
women with high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to have
children with birth defects.
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Warfarin (Blood Thinner) During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about warfarin and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Is it safe during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding?
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Trentinoin During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about Trentinoin and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Is it safe to use while pregnant and/or breastfeeding?
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Lithium During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about Lithium and pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive (TTC). Is it safe?
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Theophylline During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about theophylline and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Is it safe during pregnancy and/org breastfeeding?
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