A guide to navigating high-risk pregnancies through medical care, healthy living, and emotional support. A high-risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, the fetus, or both are at an increased risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy or childbirth, potentially endangering their lives. There are various causes for high-risk pregnancies, but the woman’s age

  What babies experience when exposed to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco in the womb—and how to support their recovery. Maternal substance use may include any combination of drug, chemical, alcohol, and tobacco consumption during pregnancy. While in the womb, a fetus grows and develops by receiving nutrients from the mother through the placenta. However, along

How alcohol, tobacco, and drugs affect your unborn baby—and where to get help. During pregnancy, there are many steps you can take to keep yourself and your baby healthy—such as getting regular prenatal care, eating nutritious foods, and staying active. One of the most critical steps is avoiding harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol, and drugs,

How to Protect Your Mental and Physical Health While Expecting Eating disorders—such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder—are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone. However, they are more commonly experienced by women, and pregnancy can sometimes intensify or trigger these struggles. Eating too little, eating excessively, purging, using laxatives, or

Science-Based Insights for Men and Women Trying to Conceive Diabetes mellitus is a long-term (chronic) metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. When blood sugar is consistently high, it can lead to complications that affect various organs, including the heart, eyes, kidneys, and more. Additionally, diabetes is closely linked to

  What You Need to Know to Protect Your Health and Your Baby’s Depression is a serious medical condition that can have different causes. It can change how someone feels, thinks, and acts. The most common symptoms of depression are strong, lasting feelings of sadness and an inability to feel pleasure or happiness. Other symptoms