Essential Reads: Breastfeeding and ADHD Medications
Many women taking stimulants question whether it is safe to take these medications while breastfeeding. Â
Folic Acid Supplementation: When to Start? How Long to Continue?
Folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy substantially reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Emerging research suggests that folic acid may have beneficial effects on neurodevelopment that extend beyond the first trimester. We review the evidence on the timing of folic acid supplementation and findings from the FASSTT randomized controlled trial, which examined whether supplementation during the second and third trimesters was associated with improved cognitive outcomes in children.
New Research from the CWMH: Data on the Reproductive Safety of Vortioxetine
New prospective data on 56 first-trimester vortioxetine exposures found no major malformations, offering reassuring but still preliminary reproductive safety information.
New Research from the CWMH: Data on the Reproductive Safety of Cariprazine
New registry data found no major malformations among 58 infants exposed to cariprazine in the first trimester, offering reassuring but preliminary reproductive safety evidence.
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Major Malformations: Inconsistent Data, Emerging Red Flags
Evidence linking prenatal cannabis to major malformations is mixed, but signals for rare defects like gastroschisis and omphalocele support caution regarding the use of cannabis in pregnancy.
You Asked: What is Lithium Orotate? Can It Be Used During Pregnancy?
Lithium orotate is a lithium salt marketed as a supplement, but we do not have evidence that it is an effective or safer mood stabilizer, and it should not be used as a substitute for standard lithium treatment in pregnancy.
Topiramate and Risk of Major Malformations: What Clinicians and Patients Need to Know
Topiramate exposure in early pregnancy is linked to higher rates of major malformations and more specifically to increased risk of oral clefts, with risk rising at higher doses.
The Complex Motives Behind Cannabis Use During Pregnancy
A new study examines why some women continue using cannabis during pregnancy, revealing overlapping motives such as mental health, relief of nausea and vomiting, and pain management.
Sleep Problems During Pregnancy: Screening and Opportunities for Intervention
Early identification and treatment of maternal sleep problems during pregnancy may lower the risk for postpartum depression and improve both maternal and infant sleep outcomes.
Improved Mental Health Outcomes Associated with Doula Support: A Review of the Evidence
Doula support during pregnancy and childbirth and after delivery is linked to lower rates of postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress, improving maternal emotional well-being and access to mental health care.