Perceptions on pregnancy & medication

Being pregnant can be a challenging time for any woman, but some face more obstacles than others. Around 10% of women face serious medical conditions requiring treatment during pregnancy, yet we are lacking sufficient information about the implications of medication...

Research addresses knowledge gap in medication and pregnancy

There needs to be more government funding into pregnancy and medication research programs, according to Dr. Steve Caritis, one of the leading doctors in this field in the US. The lack of information in this field, he believes, frequently puts women at risk. “Almost...

It isn’t just about stories… it’s about getting support

A few of weeks ago, our ‘miracle’ baby Luke turned 12, and this reminded me that it was nearly 13 years ago that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. As I write this blog and talk to others about my experience, the emotions come flooding back, making it feel like...

A decade of cancer and pregnancy research at KU Leuven

Marnix Verley, now four years old, is probably too young to realize it. But when his mother Lesley was pregnant with him, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. His parents faced the difficult choice between terminating the pregnancy and treating the cancer with...

I have major depression, and it’s serious

Catherine*, 37, works in public health and has suffered from severe depression for more than a decade. She takes Prozac but refused to let this stop her from pursuing her dream of having a family. This is her story. (*real name changed for anonymity.) I was diagnosed...

Is it possible to collect data directly from pregnant women?

The Pregnancy and Medicine Initiative has talked a lot about the data gap around pregnancy and medication. We’ve also highlighted how hard it can be to collect such information. Practical and ethical roadblocks exist which can hinder the gathering of this vital data...