By Kirstie Perrotta, MPH and Sonia Alvarado, MotherToBaby California Like clockwork, wildfire season is upon us yet again. Although the upper Eastern seaboard is currently most affected by smoke drifting south from wildfires in Canada, there’s a good chance that many additional areas within the United States will see plummeting air quality due to wildfire smoke in the coming months. So what do people who are pregnant need to know? Here are some commonly asked questions we receive at …
The Baby Blog: allergies
AH-CHOOsing the Best Way to Stifle Seasonal Allergies During Pregnancy
Welcome, spring! Did someone say wildflowers? (AHHH...) Trees? (AHHH…) Grasses? (CHOO!) Ugh! While many people enjoy renewed energy brought on by the bursting forth of spring color, others feel only the misery of seasonal allergies due to pollen, mold, and other springtime triggers. Combine seasonal allergy symptoms with pregnancy, and you can end up short on sleep, long on fatigue, and with an increased chance of respiratory complications if you have asthma. None of these things are good for …
When The Sniffles Strike During Pregnancy: Cold Meds & Your Questions Answered
Is it a cold? The flu? It’s just miserable. It’s Friday afternoon and you have had a tickle in your throat since you woke up this morning, pressure behind your nose and in your forehead, and, a drippy nose. You are sure that you have a cold and it is not a flu or COVID-19. You have been trying to get a hold of your doctor because you want them to tell you what you can take because you are pregnant and worried about taking the wrong medication. With each hour that passes you know that it is …
Air Pollution, Allergies, and Asthma – When Breathing during Pregnancy Is Difficult
The air we breathe matters and often we do not have control over what is in it. For many, the Spring season brings beautiful flowers and a most welcome warming of temperatures, as well as spending more time outside. It also marks the explosion of pollen, which can irritate both those with allergies and people with asthma. Being outside to engage in outdoor activities also means we are exposed to any air pollution that may be present. Pregnancy is a sensitive time for both the parent and the …
Allergies, Asthma and Pregnancy…Oh My! Wait. Don’t Panic.
By Mara Gaudette, MS, CGC, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby My friend Jackie, newly (and unexpectedly!) pregnant called in a bit of a panic. Her cardiologist was switching her high blood pressure medicine since he told her that many times the first choice meds used to treat adults with high blood pressure are not the ones to use for pregnancy. She was still waiting for her asthma doctor to call her back but she figured her asthma treatment plan was another of the many changes she …
