Medication during pregnancy: a neglected area of research

Like other experts, Carl Weiner, M.D. and professor in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, states that the use of medication during pregnancy is a neglected area of research. In April 2013, he published “The Complete Guide...

Too scared to try?

For women with a chronic disease or condition, most assume that pregnancy is out of the question. In fact, many don’t even bother to ask their doctors – they expect a “no” before they’ve even started to ask any questions. But there’s plenty of research to suggest that...

Bridging the knowledge gap on drug use in pregnancy

How does a healthcare professional know if a drug is safe for use? Fortunately, all prescription and over-the-counter medicines go through a thorough clinical trials process, which lasts for several years. And regulators don’t launch a drug until they are convinced of...

The impossible dilemma: fight cancer or save your child

When there are two lives to consider, which one do you choose? That was the question doctors faced when they discovered that Caroline Swain had breast cancer – she was just a few weeks into her pregnancy at the time. Caroline’s pregnancy formed part of a wider study...

Taking the lead on treating cancer in pregnancy

Dr Frédéric Amant from the Leuven Cancer Institute in Belgium is taking the lead on treating cancer in pregnancy. Back in 2004, a pregnant cancer sufferer came to his team seeking to terminate her pregnancy – this made him realize how little was being done for...

How Dr. Lyerly’s breaking pregnancy taboos

Dr. Anne Drapkin Lyerly, an obstetrician/gynecologist, researcher, bioethicist and author, is one of the founders of the Second Wave Initiative. Founded in 2009, the Second Wave Initiative aims to offer scientifically responsible solutions to pregnant women in need of...