Mother and Child

Women taking the epilepsy drug valproate (Depakote) while pregnant are at increased risk of having children with autism and other developmental problems, according to a small British study. Valproate is prescribed for epilepsy as well as certain psyc...

Women taking the epilepsy drug valproate (Depakote...

A nutritional supplement called myo-inositol may help protect women at risk for gestational diabetes, according to a small pilot study. Previous studies have shown that inositol supplements may help restore fertility in polycystic ovary syndrome, but...

A nutritional supplement called myo-inositol may h...

Children of mothers who take the antiepileptic drug valproate during pregnancy have lower IQ scores at age 6, a new study says. And the higher the dose of valproate during pregnancy, the greater the effect on a child's IQ, according to the report pub...

Children of mothers who take the antiepileptic dru...

A drug commonly used to treat severe cases of morning sickness does not appear to be linked to birth defects or other risks to the baby, a large new study suggests. The Danish researchers said the findings, reported in the Feb. 28 issue of the New En...

A drug commonly used to treat severe cases of morn...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have released new vaccine guidelines for 2013. One change is a recommendation for women to receive a dose of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine with each p...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventio...

Women who bleed heavily after giving birth aren't at any higher risk of most complications during their next pregnancy, according to a new UK study. Postpartum hemorrhage - when a woman loses at least half a quart of blood - typically occurs when the...

Women who bleed heavily after giving birth aren't ...

Mon, Feb 11, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy are at increased risk for heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes later in life, according to a new study. The increased risk was seen even in women who had o...

Mon, Feb 11, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Women who hav...

Women who took extra folic acid in the weeks before and just after becoming pregnant were less likely to have a child with autism, in a new study from Norway. Because lack of folic acid has been tied to brain and spinal cord birth defects, groups inc...

Women who took extra folic acid in the weeks befor...

Opening the windows at home may help pregnant women reduce their risk for preterm birth or low birth weight, a new study indicates. Researchers suggested the increase in fresh air could help protect expectant mothers from exposure to secondhand smoke...

Opening the windows at home may help pregnant wome...

Black women who are obese before they become pregnant or gain an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy are at greater risk for having an abnormally large baby, according to a new study. Macrosomia -- when an infant is born weighing more than 8....

Black women who are obese before they become pregn...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, when used as recommended, most insect repellents are considered safe during pregnancy. Since there are different types of active ingredients (pesticides) in insect repellents, remember to read the label...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, wh...

Expert Answers Sara Riordangenetic counselor There's almost no information on how most kinds of chemicals used in the house or garden might affect your developing baby. While there's no data suggesting that any specific fertilizer causes birth defect...

Expert Answers Sara Riordangenetic counselor There...

Expert Answers Tekoa Kingcertified nurse-midwife By the time insecticides get metabolized in your body and carried through the bloodstream to the fetus, the amount of exposure to your baby is very small. No epidemiological studies have shown that wom...

Expert Answers Tekoa Kingcertified nurse-midwife B...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor For now, yes, it looks perfectly safe to use your phone all you want. Cell phones do emit low-wave microwave energy, but this hasn't been shown to have any adverse effect on a woman or her pregnancy. That sa...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor For now...

Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, it’s safe to use a photocopier while you are pregnant. The use of photocopiers has been studied, and there aren't any risks to pregnant women or others from using photocopiers. There’s no known risk from the toner or ...

Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, it’s safe to use ...

Tekoa Kingcertified nurse-midwife A heating pad applied to sore muscles or aching joints won't harm your baby, because moderate heat applied to one area of your body won't raise your overall blood temperature. And there's no evidence that EMFs (elect...

Tekoa Kingcertified nurse-midwife A heating pad ap...

Mary Lake Polanob-gyn As long as you keep the temperature at the right level, an electric blanket is fine. The right temperature is one that's high enough to keep you warm but not high enough to burn you or to raise your body temperature, which could...

Mary Lake Polanob-gyn As long as you keep the temp...

Cornelia Gravesob-gyn The electromagnetic fields aren't a problem, and your baby probably is exposed to more vibration from your walking around all day than from your sitting in one of these chairs. Tekoa Kingcertified nurse-midwife Yes. Your baby is...

Cornelia Gravesob-gyn The electromagnetic fields a...

Lori WolfeGenetic counselor The answer depends on what type of paint you're using or being exposed to. Some paint contains ingredients that you should avoid during pregnancy. In general, paint contains a pigment or dye that's suspended in a liquid to...

Lori WolfeGenetic counselor The answer depends on ...

Jeanne-Marie Guiseob-gyn You can move furniture in the first trimester, but after that I don't recommend moving heavy furniture. You're already going to have a lot of back strain just from carrying the fetus. The whole way you hold yourself changes b...

Jeanne-Marie Guiseob-gyn You can move furniture in...

Christina Chambersepidemiologist We don't know whether the pesticides used to kill bugs are safe or not safe in pregnancy. But since they could be toxic to you or the baby, we recommend you leave your house while the extermination is taking place and...

Christina Chambersepidemiologist We don't know whe...