Hantavirus has recently been making headlines, leaving many pregnant women wondering what it is, how people become infected, and whether it can affect pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.

In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, genetic counselor, teratogen information specialist, and mom of four, sits down with maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Sarah Dotters-Katz to discuss what we currently know about hantavirus infection during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dr. Dotters-Katz explains how hantavirus is spread, common symptoms to watch for, and steps families can take to reduce exposure risks. She also shares what healthcare providers know, and don't yet know, about hantavirus during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of prevention, early medical care, and relying on trusted sources of information.

Whether you're pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or simply looking for reliable information, this episode offers practical, evidence-based guidance to help you stay informed.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What hantavirus is and where it is found
• How people become infected with hantavirus
• Common signs and symptoms of infection
• What is known about hantavirus during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Potential concerns for pregnant women and developing babies
• Prevention tips to reduce exposure risk
• When to contact a healthcare provider

About Our Guest

Dr. Sarah Dotters-Katz is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Duke Health who cares for women with high-risk pregnancies. She is passionate about infectious diseases in pregnancy and has extensive experience helping patients navigate complex medical conditions during pregnancy. Dr. Dotters-Katz is also a medical educator and researcher dedicated to improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Resources

Learn more about MotherToBaby:
https://mothertobaby.org

Browse our free evidence-based fact sheets:
https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/

Listen to more episodes of The MotherToBaby Podcast:
https://mothertobaby.org/podcast/

Diapers are something many families need every single day, yet diaper need remains a hidden struggle affecting millions of parents and babies across the United States. In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, MS, CGC, speaks with Dr. Megan V. Smith from the National Diaper Bank Network about the growing body of research connecting diaper need to infant health, maternal mental health, and overall family wellbeing.

Dr. Smith discusses how limited access to clean diapers can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, feelings of shame, and depressive symptoms among parents, while also affecting infant health through increased diaper rash and related infections. The conversation also explores how financial hardship and unmet basic needs can impact both parents and babies during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Listeners will also learn about available resources and the important work being done to support families experiencing diaper need.

Dr. Megan V. Smith is Chief of Innovation and Impact at the National Diaper Bank Network and a nationally recognized leader in maternal and child health, public health, and mental health equity. She published one of the first peer-reviewed studies on diaper need and its impact on child and maternal health.

Learn more about the National Diaper Bank Network:
https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/

For evidence-based information about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, visit MotherToBaby:
https://mothertobaby.org/

Questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding? Contact a MotherToBaby specialist by phone, text, live chat, or email:
https://mothertobaby.org/contact-expert/

High blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, including preeclampsia, can raise a lot of questions and anxiety for expectant parents. In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, genetic counselor, mom of four, and teratogen information specialist, sits down with maternal-fetal medicine specialist and member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Dr. Karen Florio to discuss what pregnant women should know about hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and the role low dose aspirin can play in reducing certain risks.

Dr. Florio shares both her professional expertise caring for high-risk pregnancies and her personal experience navigating a high-risk pregnancy herself. Together, Chris and Dr. Florio break down the warning signs of preeclampsia, when to contact a healthcare provider, and why low dose aspirin may be recommended in some pregnancies, even though regular aspirin is typically avoided during pregnancy.

The conversation also explores how common hypertensive disorders are, what patients can do to advocate for themselves, and reassuring, evidence-based guidance for anyone currently pregnant and feeling worried about blood pressure concerns.

In this episode, we discuss:
• What "high blood pressure in pregnancy" and hypertensive disorders actually mean
• Signs and symptoms of preeclampsia to watch for
• Why low dose aspirin may be recommended during pregnancy
• Who may benefit from low dose aspirin therapy
• When to reach out to a healthcare provider
• How patients can feel informed and empowered during pregnancy

About Our Guest:
Dr. Karen Florio is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the University of Missouri and currently serves as Vice Chair of Patient Safety and Quality for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as Director of Labor and Delivery. Her work focuses on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and heart disease in pregnancy, and she has held leadership roles with Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board and the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

Learn more about MotherToBaby:
https://mothertobaby.org/

Listen to more episodes of The MotherToBaby Podcast:
https://mothertobaby.org/podcast/

What happens when a researcher studying pregnancy becomes a patient navigating her own autoimmune diagnosis? In this powerful episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, genetic counselor Chris Stallman, CGC, sits down with Dr. Christina Longo, Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and perinatal epidemiologist, to discuss her lived experience managing rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dr. Longo shares how her first diagnosis during pregnancy reshaped her research focus—from child outcomes to the importance of maternal health, mental wellbeing, and self-advocacy. She opens up about the difficult decisions she faced around medication safety, breastfeeding, and treatment during pregnancy, and how patient-led communities and research studies helped her find strength and clarity.

Listeners will learn:

-How autoimmune diseases can change during pregnancy and postpartum
-Why controlled treatment plans matter before conception
-The emotional and physical toll of navigating chronic illness while pregnant
-The importance of participating in pregnancy studies to improve care for future parents

Whether you're living with a chronic condition, supporting someone who is, or counseling patients through pregnancy, this episode sheds light on the urgent need for research, empathy, and balanced care for both parent and baby.

🔗 Learn more or join a pregnancy study: https://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/

How do public health experts detect emerging risks to pregnancies before they become widespread crises? In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, genetic counselor, mom of four, and teratogen information specialist, sits down with Dr. Amanda Elmore, Assistant Professor of Maternal & Child Health at the University of South Florida, to explore the powerful role of birth defect surveillance.

Dr. Elmore shares how her career in public health began during the Zika virus epidemic—reviewing medical records of exposed infants to help the CDC understand the real-world impact of in-utero exposure. She explains how surveillance systems track structural and functional birth anomalies, serve as early warning systems for new and emerging exposures, and shape everything from clinical care and referral services to national public health policy.

The conversation also dives into:

• How surveillance led to rapid public health responses during the Zika crisis
• What neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) reveals about opioid exposure during pregnancy
• The push for real-time data using electronic medical records and health information exchanges
• How machine learning and natural language processing may transform how cases are identified
• Why a life-course perspective matters for children born with birth defects
• How surveillance data supports funding, prevention efforts, and long-term family services

Dr. Elmore also shares her vision for the future: a more standardized, timely, and integrated national system that can better support prevention, research, and lifelong care for affected children and families.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how data quietly powers some of the most important protections for moms and babies.

💡 Have questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
You can contact MotherToBaby for free, confidential, evidence-based information:
📞 Call: 866-626-6847
📱 Text: 855-999-3525
💻 Visit: https://mothertobaby.org/

The weeks after delivery (often called the fourth trimester) can raise just as many questions as pregnancy itself. From pain management and supplements to beauty treatments and mental health medications, many parents are unsure how different exposures may affect breastfeeding.

In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, MS, CGC, is joined by Kirstie Perrotta, MPH, and Angela Messer, MS, Teratogen Information Specialists from MotherToBaby California, to discuss some of the most common postpartum questions they receive from parents and healthcare providers.

Together, they explain how exposure information is evaluated during breastfeeding and how factors like dose, timing, and route of exposure influence what may reach breast milk.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

-What the fourth trimester is and why exposure questions continue after delivery

-Common postpartum concerns, including pain medications, stool softeners, and laxatives

-How prescription pain medications, including opioids, are evaluated during breastfeeding

-Why route of exposure matters when considering topical products

-What to know about hair dye, Botox, manicures, facials, and salon treatments

-Why supplements, herbal products, and proprietary blends raise additional questions

-Which over-the-counter medications are often discussed in the breastfeeding period

-How medication guidance can differ between pregnancy and lactation

-Why addressing postpartum mental health conditions is essential

-Common breastfeeding myths and misconceptions

-Practical tips to reduce direct infant contact with topical products

Key Takeaways:

-Many medications have data available for use during breastfeeding

-Topical products are typically evaluated based on how they are applied and absorbed

-High-dose supplements and proprietary blends often lack breastfeeding data

-Postpartum pain, mental health, and chronic conditions deserve appropriate treatment

-Feeding decisions are personal, and there is no single approach that works for everyone

Resources Mentioned:

-MotherToBaby.org – evidence-based fact sheets, Baby Blogs, podcasts, and educational resources

-Over 300 fact sheets in English and Spanish on medications, exposures, and health conditions

-One-on-one support via phone, chat, text, or email

-MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies – helping expand knowledge about medications, conditions, and exposures in pregnancy and lactation

Expecting a baby often comes with a long list of questions—and a lot of conflicting information. Can you really drink coffee? What about sushi or soft cheese? Which cold medications are ok in pregnancy? And how should you handle everyday exposures like cleaning products?

In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, Certified Genetic Counselor and mom of four, is joined by returning guests Angela Messer and Kirstie Perrotta, both experienced teratogen information specialists (and moms themselves). Together, they sort through some of the most common pregnancy "do's and don'ts," offering clarity with evidence-based insights.

You'll learn:

☕ How much caffeine experts suggest during pregnancy

🧀 The truth about soft cheeses and why pasteurization matters

🍣 Sushi and mercury exposure—what to consider and what to limit

🤧 Tips for managing allergies and colds while pregnant or breastfeeding

🧴 Guidance on handling cleaning products and reducing exposures

🌿 Why supplements and "natural" remedies aren't always the best option

🌸 The importance of folic acid in prenatal vitamins

👶 Real stories from Angela, Kirstie, and Chris about what worried them during their own pregnancies

Whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers reassurance, practical advice, and a reminder: you're doing your best, and you're not alone.

For more resources on exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, visit MotherToBaby.org

Group A strep might sound like a simple sore throat—but for many children and families in American Samoa, it can have life-threatening consequences. In this episode of the MotherToBaby Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Anaise Uso, a public health leader and mother, who shares both her professional and deeply personal experiences with strep infections, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
Together, we explore:

• What Group A Strep is and the common signs of strep throat and skin infections.
• How untreated infections can progress into rheumatic fever and, ultimately, rheumatic heart disease.
• The unique challenges in American Samoa, where children are three times more likely to be affected than in neighboring Pacific Islands.
• The role of screening, prevention, and treatment programs, including antibiotics and regular monitoring.
• A personal story of Dr. Uso's son, who was diagnosed with RHD at age three, and how their family manages his care.
• How partnerships with CDC, AMCHP, and MotherToBaby are helping build resources, raise awareness, and strengthen prevention efforts.
• This episode highlights why early detection, treatment, and community awareness are critical - not only to protect children's immediate health, but also to prevent lifelong complications.

👉 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• MotherToBaby: Group A Strep Fact Sheet
• MotherToBaby: Rheumatic Heart Disease Fact Sheet
• Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)