(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department
of Health (UDOH) and University of Utah collaborative program, Pregnancy
Risk Line, introduce MotherToBaby UT, a name added to Pregnancy Risk
Line, the statewide counseling service that connects experts in the
field of birth defects research and pharmacy with health care providers
and moms.
"Our service has been providing information over the phone for nearly 30
years,” said John Carey, MD, MotherToBaby medical director and
pediatrician at the University of Utah. “Most obstetric, pediatric, and
family practice providers, as well as pharmacists, are aware of the
service. We believe the name MotherToBaby will make it clearer that,
along with pregnancy, we also answer questions about medicines and other
exposures for breastfeeding moms," Carey added.
Carey explains the need for counseling, saying approximately 50% of
women report taking at least one medication during pregnancy. “The
average woman doesn’t find out she’s pregnant until she’s at least five
or six weeks along. That means a woman could have been consuming alcohol
or taking medications during that time without knowing she’s pregnant.
She then finds herself deeply concerned about what it might mean for her
developing baby. MotherToBaby staff can be a reassuring source for
moms,” Carey added.
MotherToBaby affiliates are recommended resources by many agencies,
including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and are
dedicated to providing evidence-based information to mothers, health
care professionals, and the general public. Anyone living in North
American can connect with MotherToBaby toll-free through its phone
counseling service at 1 (866) 626-6847.
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