Pregnancy and Weight Gain: How Much Is Too Little?

Washington, DC -- Overweight and obese women may be able to gain less than what is recommended during pregnancy and still have a healthy baby, according to new recommendations issued today by The Ame...

Noninvasive Prenatal Testing for Fetal Aneuploidy

Number 545

ABSTRACT: Noninvasive prenatal testing that uses cell free fetal DNA from the plasma of pregnant women offers tremendous potential as a screening tool for fetal aneuploidy. Cell free fetal DNA testin...

Later Childbearing

FAQ060

Why is there a concern about having a child later in life? Becoming pregnant after age 35 years can present a challenge. Also, having a child later in life has certain risks. These risks may affect ...

La procreación más tarde en la vida

SP060 La fertilidad La fertilidad de todas las mujeres disminuye en cierto grado a partir de los 30 años. Después de ese momento, es posible que tarde más en quedar embarazada. La fertilidad d...

Pruebas de diagnostico de defectos congenitos

SP164 Defectos congénitos comunes Cada año, aproximadamente 1 de cada 33 bebés nace con un defecto congénito. Un defecto congénito es un problema que está presente en el momento del nacimiento...

Screening for Birth Defects

FAQ165

What is a birth defect? A birth defect is a physical problem that is present at birth. A birth defect may affect how the body looks, functions, or both. Many birth defects are mild, but some can be s...

Well Woman and Prenatal Visits Should Include Alcohol Abuse Screening

Washington, DC -- Women should be screened for alcohol use at least yearly and within the first trimester of pregnancy, according to a new Committee Opinion released today by The American College of ...

Vitamin D - Screening and Supplementation During Pregnancy

Number 495

ABSTRACT: During pregnancy, severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with biochemical evidence of disordered skeletal homeostasis, congenital rickets, and fractures in the newborn. At...

Most Antibiotics Are Safe During Pregnancy

Washington, DC -- In 2009, researchers from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study published a report suggesting that two types of commonly prescribed antibiotics used to treat urinary tract inf...

Update on Carrier Screening for Cystic Fibrosis

Number 486

(Replaces No. 325, December 2005)

ABSTRACT: In 2001, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical Genetics introduced guidelines for prenatal and preconception carrier screening for cyst...

Family History as a Risk Assessment Tool

Number 478

ABSTRACT: Family history plays a critical role in assessing the risk of inherited medical conditions and single gene disorders. Several methods have been established to obtain family medical historie...

Carrier Screening for Fragile X Syndrome

Number 469

(Replaces No. 338, June 2006)

ABSTRACT: Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation. The syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 3,600 males and 1 in 4,000–6,000 females. Approximately 1 in 250 female...

Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy

Number 462

ABSTRACT: Moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth. The relationship of caffeine to growth restrictio...

Maternal Phenylketonuria

Number 449

(Replaces No. 230, January 2000)

ABSTRACT: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism characterized by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme responsi...

Air Travel During Pregnancy

Number 443

(Replaces No. 264, December 2001)

ABSTRACT: In the absence of obstetric or medical complications, pregnant women can observe the same precautions for air travel as the general population and can fly safely. Pregnant women should be i...

Preconception and Prenatal Carrier Screening for Genetic Diseases in Individuals of Eastern European Jewish Descent

Number 442

(Replaces No. 298, August 2004)

ABSTRACT: Certain autosomal recessive disease conditions are more prevalent in individuals of Eastern European Jewish (Ashkenazi) descent. Previously, the American College of Obstetricians and Gyneco...

Preimplantation Genetic Screening for Aneuploidy

Number 430

ABSTRACT: Preimplantation genetic screening differs from preimplantation genetic diagnosis for single gene disorders and was introduced for the detection of chromosomal aneuploidy. Current data does ...

All Patients Should be Asked About Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Washington, DC -- Drug and alcohol abuse is a major health problem for American women, cutting across all income levels, ages, and races/ethnicities. In a committee opinion issued today, The American...

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Know the Facts

Washington, DC -- The recent news story "Can Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol in Moderation?", which aired on ABC's Good Morning America Weekend, has created tremendous confusion among women about the sa...

ACOG's Screening Guidelines on Chromosomal Abnormalities

San Diego, CA -- Today experts addressed in further detail new screening guidelines for fetal chromosomal abnormalities at the 55th Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians an...

Pruebas para la deteccion de defectos congenitos

SP165

Las pruebas de deteccion pueden proporcionar informacion sobre el riesgo que corre una mujer embarazada de tener un bebe con determinados defectos congenitos. Estas pruebas tambien pueden ayudar a su...

Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging During Pregnancy

Number 299

(Reaffirmed 2009, Replaces No. 158, September 1995)

ABSTRACT: Undergoing a single diagnostic X-ray procedure does not result in radiation exposure adequate to threaten the well-being of the developing preembryo, embryo, or fetus and is not an indicati...

Management of Asymptomatic Pregnant or Lactating Women Exposed to Anthrax

Number 268

ABSTRACT: Anthrax infections are diagnosed by isolating Bacillus anthracis from body fluids or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons suspected to have the disease. It is recommende...