The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) unequivocally recommends that ALL WOMEN who are either planning or capable of pregnancy take a DAILY SUPPLEMENT containing 0.4 TO 0.8 mg (400-800 µg) OF FOLIC ACID.  [...]
While we have considerable data regarding the reproductive safety of antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), most studies have focused on the prevalence of major malformations in children with prenatal exposure to [...]
We often talk about the importance of planning for pregnancy. In these discussions, we emphasize the importance of supplementation with folic acid as a means of decreasing risk for birth defects and improving neurodevelopmental [...]
While we have considerable information regarding the teratogenic risk associated with prenatal exposure to various antiepileptic (AED) drugs, we have less impact on exposure to AEDs on behavior outcomes in children. Several studies have shown [...]
According to recent studies, the participation of fathers in childcare nearly doubled between 1965 and 2011. Despite this growing involvement of fathers in their children’s lives, pediatric visits continue to be focused on the mother-child [...]
Previous studies have shown that children exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy may be at increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Â In a recent population-based cohort study from Denmark, researchers examined the prevalence of [...]
We have, over the last twenty years, seen many studies assessing the risks associated with prenatal exposure to antidepressants. Â For the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), we have a fairly large body of data regarding the [...]
It is fairly well-known that interactions between parents and children are associated with improved developmental outcomes in children. Â Previous research has primarily focused on how maternal rather than paternal involvement influences infant neurodevelopment. Â A recent [...]
Over the years, various studies have demonstrated the many advantages of breastfeeding, findings that have led the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend that all mothers breastfeed their children for the first year of the [...]
Several studies have observed that fetal exposure to the antiepileptic drug (AED), valproic acid (Depakote), may significantly increase the risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Â In contrast, exposures to other AEDs, [...]
