birth weight - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Caffeine and Pregnancy: How Much is Safe?

Many women ask about the safety of drinking caffeinated beverages during pregnancy. A recent study looked at this question, analyzing data from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons, which included a group of 2,055 nonsmoking women at low risk for fetal growth problems. Caffeine consumption was evaluated using plasma concentrations of caffeine and paraxanthine (a metabolite of caffeine) and self-reported caffeinated beverage consumption at 10 to 13 weeks gestation.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-04-23T12:21:43-04:00April 20th, 2021|Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

Maternal Anxiety and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes: Why We Need to Screen Women for Anxiety During Pregnancy

When providing information to patients regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, one key element of the decision-making process is an appraisal of the risks associated with untreated psychiatric illness in the mother. While there [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-25T08:29:37-04:00November 12th, 2019|Anxiety Disorders, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

What’s Worse for Pregnancy: Bipolar Disorder or the Medications Used to Treat It?

In studies of pregnant women with unipolar depression, it has been shown that untreated psychiatric illness in the mother may have a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes, influencing the length of gestation and birthweight. There is far less data on pregnancy outcomes in women with bipolar disorder. A recent Swedish study analyzes pregnancy outcomes in treated and untreated women with bipolar disorder and attempts to distinguish between the effects of medication versus the effects of untreated psychiatric illness in the mother.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-24T11:55:47-04:00February 5th, 2013|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Eating Disorders

Most studies have shown that women experience an improvement or remission in eating disorders during pregnancy; however, studies assessing how eating disorders may affect pregnancy outcomes have yielded conflicting results. While some studies have demonstrated no negative effects, others have demonstrated higher miscarriage rates among women with bulimia nervosa. In addition, women with histories of eating disorders have been shown to be significantly more likely to experience preterm delivery and to give birth to babies small for gestational age.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:10:02-04:00September 11th, 2012|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|1 Comment

Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy Increases Risk of Gestational Diabetes

Atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite the increasing use of these medications in women of child-bearing age, there is still relatively little data regarding the reproductive safety of these medications.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-04-14T16:18:01-04:00July 17th, 2012|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

Prenatal Use of Atypical Antipsychotics: Effect on Birth Weight

Atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite the increasing use of these medications in women of child-bearing age, there is still relatively little data addressing the reproductive safety of these medications.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T15:37:11-04:00January 25th, 2010|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

Intrauterine Cannabis Exposure Affects Fetal Growth

Although the risks of smoking tobacco while pregnant are well documented and well publicized to the general population, women continue to smoke cigarettes during pregnancy. Smoking cigarettes is known to increase a woman's risk of having a low-birth weight baby and increases the risk of preterm delivery. While clinicians often ask about and discourage tobacco use during pregnancy, much less attention has been devoted to the use of marijuana during pregnancy, despite the fact that marijuana is the most commonly consumed illicit drug among pregnant women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T15:33:51-04:00January 21st, 2010|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments