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MotherToBaby, a service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), is the nation’s leading authority and most trusted source of evidence-based information on the safety of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Whether you are TTC (trying to conceive), pregnant, or breastfeeding, the MotherToBaby website has Fact Sheets (in English and Spanish) that answer frequently asked questions about the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can also email an expert or chat with one live if you have additional questions. If you are taking a medication while pregnant or breastfeeding, you can also…

For many parents, it is a time-honored tradition to have this thought on a regular basis: what do you mean it’s time to feed them AGAIN?!?! Feeding tiny humans (and their parents) is an endless and time consuming task!! We asked real parents living with chronic illnesses to share their best tips and ideas for making cooking and meal planning easier! Weekly Menus & Grocery Lists “I meal plan for three meals a week. It’s easy because we only have one child. Then I don’t waste as much food and we can usually eat leftovers. I keep a list of…

For millions of people, chronic illnesses and depression are facts of life…Many people with [chronic illness] become depressed. In fact, depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness. It’s estimated that up to one-third of people with a serious medical condition have symptoms of depression.Dealing With Chronic Illnesses and Depression, WebMD It’s extremely common for people living with chronic illness to struggle with their mental health. Being diagnosed with a lifelong illness can cause enormous life changes, make it difficult to do things you love, and impact your self confidence. Managing a lifelong chronic illness for years…

Whether you’re having a flare of your chronic illness or you caught a bug, keeping toddlers entertained when you don’t feel well is no easy task! We asked real mamas living with chronic illnesses to share their best ideas for entertaining toddlers when you don’t feel well. Relax your screen time guilt “No shame in screen time!” – Cheryl “We are camped out in front of the TV at times, and the guilt is real in these moments, but I try to remember that we need to have that downtime so we can rest and be ready for the next…

Worldwide about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. In developing countries this is even higher, i.e. 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% after child birth. In severe cases mothers’ suffering might be so severe that they may even commit suicide. In addition, the affected mothers cannot function properly. As a result, the children’s growth and development may be negatively affected as well. Maternal mental disorders are treatable. Effective interventions can be delivered even by well-trained non-specialist health providers. World Health Organization Maternal mental health disorders are the #1…

Sometimes kids need help understanding chronic illness and disability, as well as recognizing and processing their own feelings. We hope these topics are an ongoing discussion in your family, and we love to review children’s books that may help you along the way! When Mommy Is Sick by Ferne Sherkin-Langer Laura Ronnfeldt received a copy of this book as a gift from Mamas Facing Forward. She was not compensated for this review and all opinions are her own. The focus on “When Mommy Is Sick” is a mother needing to be in the hospital for a few weeks. I thought…

Remarkable moms are removing barriers to research through their advocacy. This article was written by Emily Harari, who works as a liaison between the scientific team at ImYoo and the patient community. ImYoo is a public benefit corporation (PBC), which means that in addition to being accountable to their shareholders they are responsible for returning benefits to the public. Mamas Facing Forward received a small donation from ImYoo. Moms can be the fiercest of patient advocates, for themselves and especially their children. Maybe it’s the “mama bear,” protective instinct that kicks into hyperdrive? Or maybe there’s some truth to the…

Parenting is easy, said no one ever. And when you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it comes with an extra set of challenges. Tasks that many moms and dads take for granted, like dressing your kids or playing outside, require more thought and effort. If you’ve had RA for years, you’re probably accustomed to navigating a lot of situations on your own. But what about once you have kids? Sarah Ellis, HealthCentral In this HealthCentral article, real parents share strategies and hacks for raising kids when you have rheumatoid arthritis. Raising Kids When You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis HealthCentral

The Autoimmune Association recently hosted the first ever Autoimmune Summit on October 15-16, 2021. The virtual two-day event featured 23 educational and empowering sessions and over 50 autoimmune experts including physicians, nurses, policy experts and of course, patient advocates (who will make up the majority of speakers). One of the sessions focused on Autoimmunity & Fertility/Pregnancy and featured: Natalie Hayden – IBD advocate, mother of 3, and founder of Lights, Camera, Crohn’sDr. Marla Dubinsky – Director of Preconception and Pregnancy Planning Clinic in New York and physician researcher at Mount Sinai Health SystemMariah Leach – chronic illness advocate, mother of…

Mamas Facing Forward founder, Mariah Leach, recently presented at the virtual American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting alongside researcher Courtney Wells and occupational therapist Cheryl Crow. This article has an overview of the important points made during the session: Mothers with rheumatic diseases need more support from healthcare providers ACR Convergence Today