Exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding
While you're pregnant, the things you come in contact with (also called exposures) may have an effect on your growing baby. Below, you can find information on common exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or midwife or contact MotherToBaby if you have questions about exposures during pregnancy.
Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs during pregnancy
Marijuana (cannabis) and pregnancy
Have more questions?
MotherToBaby provides free, confidential, and accurate information for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or thinking about getting pregnant or having a baby. They also answer questions healthcare providers may have.
Most healthcare providers aren’t experts in teratology (the study of birth defects from exposures to different things). MotherToBaby experts answer questions about how different things may cause problems during pregnancy or harm your baby. Call MotherToBaby if you have questions about:
- Alcohol
- Beauty products and cosmetics
- Cannabis or marijuana
- Chemicals and cleaning products
- Deli meats
- Drugs
- Essential oils
- Exercise and recreational sports
- Fillers or Botox
- Health problems or conditions
- Medications
- Painting your nursery
- Pets
- Smoking or vaping
- Supplements, vitamins, and herbals
- Vaccines
- Zika
- And more…
Baby Your Baby TV segments
Listen to what health experts in Utah have to say. Baby Your Baby experts share their knowledge on KUTV2 every Friday during the noon news.
Baby Your Baby: Herbals and supplements in pregnancy and breastfeeding interview
Baby Your Baby: Mood medications in pregnancy
Baby Your Baby: Diabetes and pregnancy interview
Podcasts
Baby Your Baby podcast
Listen to what health experts in Utah have to say. Baby Your Baby experts share their knowledge on the Baby Your Baby podcast.
MotherToBaby podcast
Host Chris Stallman, a mom-of-four, genetic counselor, and MotherToBaby information specialist, answers your burning questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Chris and her guest experts take listeners’ questions and do a deep dive to offer insight into the safety and risk of many different types of exposures that a pregnant or breastfeeding person may experience. You can hear what Registered Nurse Al has to say about essential oils.
MotherToBaby fact sheets
MotherToBaby's fact sheets summarize available scientific information and answer frequently asked questions about many common exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The fact sheets are meant for general information purposes and should not replace the advice of a healthcare provider.
Fact sheet topics include:
- Medicine and prescription drugs
- Illegal drugs
- Beauty products and cosmetic treatments
- Health problems and conditions, infections, and diseases
- Vaccines
- And more!
MotherToBaby blog
Everyone wants to know what’s best for their baby, especially when it comes to knowing how to reduce your risk to things that may be harmful to your baby. MotherToBaby's blog will provide you a great foundation to learn more about whatever topic you’re looking for.