Center for Better Beginnings

05/07/2025

We’re excited to share the results of a study where we looked at the short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), like rheumatoid arthritis. The results were reassuring: those with AIIRD experienced side effects that were similar to those experienced by pregnant people without AIIRD. That’s good news for pregnant individuals living with AIIRD who are considering vaccination.

https://bit.ly/3Z1To8v

05/06/2025

We're excited to share Part 2 of the Spondycast episode, "MotherToBaby: A Deep Dive into Pregnancy Studies, Patient Participation, and the Impact of Spondyloarthritis Research" featuring Dr. Christina Chambers.

In this episode, Dr. Chambers—an expert in prenatal and lactation research—explains how Pregnancy Studies help evaluate the safety of medications and treatments used during pregnancy, including those for spondyloarthritis. She also shares how individuals can participate in this important research to help improve care for future families.

Listen today at https://bit.ly/43eXFbc

05/05/2025

Listen today! 🎧

On episode 98 of the podcast, MotherToBaby's Robert Felix sits down to discuss their evidence-based information about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You won't want to miss it!

Listen at https://bit.ly/44lnqrz

04/29/2025

Join us TOMORROW for a webinar on combatting birth defect misinformation in the digital age with Science Whiz Liz !

Don't miss this special free webinar for healthcare providers on Wednesday, April 30 at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST. Register today at https://momtobaby.org/healthcommunication

03/12/2025

Join us at UC San Diego School of Medicine's first annual Women's Health Symposium on Wednesday, April 16! This groundbreaking event brings together partner research groups, features research innovations, and promotes team science to advance women's health research and health equity.

We are pleased that Dr. Gretchen Bandoli from the Center of Better Beginnings and Dr. Lars Bode from Mommy’s Milk: Human Milk Research Biorepository will be presenting at this important event.

Registration is required! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3R7wt7n

02/13/2025

"If you had to set public health recommendations for the world, how would you do it?"

Join former Medical Director Dr. Nigel Rollins as he give insights on critical public health topics. This event is open to the public - students, faculty, researchers, and community members are all welcome!

RSVP today at https://bit.ly/4gHEmLc

02/12/2025

📢 Join Us for a Mommy's Milk Meet and Greet & Facilities Tour! 🤱🔬

Ever wondered how human milk research is conducted? Now’s your chance! Mommy’s Milk at UC San Diego is hosting a Milk Lab Tour on March 3, 2025, from 8:30 – 10:30 AM.

✨ What to Expect:
✅ Meet Dr. Christina Chambers, Research Manager Kerri Bertrand, and the Mommy’s Milk team
✅ Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Milk Lab
✅ Learn how donated milk samples contribute to groundbreaking research
✅ Enjoy light refreshments & validated parking

📍 Location: Mommy’s Milk, 7910 Frost Street, Suite 370, San Diego, CA

🔗 RSVP now by scanning the QR code or visiting mommysmilkresearch.org

’sMilk

02/03/2025

“Women’s health has come of age. It’s an amazing revolution,” says Rhonda Voskuhl, MD, recipient of the 2024 Dystel Prize for MS Research. Read more about her groundbreaking career studying MS and women’s health at https://bit.ly/3WGjSLJ.

If you are currently pregnant and have been diagnosed with MS, learn more about MotherToBaby’s observational study at https://bit.ly/4fRV2Qe.

The National MS Society is the leading resource for MS research, education, and support. See how we drive progress to change the world for people affected by MS.

01/30/2025

Celebrating the strength of mothers-to-be and new moms everywhere! Let's shine a light on maternal health and advocate for compassionate equitable care. Every pregnancy is a unique journey, and every mom deserves the best support. Learn more about maternal health during pregnancy through our various programs!

01/17/2025

Happy New Year! As part of January’s Birth Defects Awareness Month, we are excited to announce the release of a 3-part podcast series on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) featuring CBB co-directors Dr. Kenneth Lyons Jones and Dr. Christina Chambers!

The first episode, “FASD Discovery and Prevalence” ( #81), is available now. In this episode, Dr. Jones, one of the pioneers who first identified FASD in the United States in 1973, and Dr. Chambers, a renowned epidemiologist who has conducted groundbreaking research on the prevalence of FASD, join host Chris Stallman, CGC, to discuss the discovery of FASD, its common physical and cognitive traits, and its prevalence today.

BONUS: Earn continuing education credits when you listen to all three episodes! Details are provided in the show notes of each episode.

You can listen to this episode wherever you stream your podcasts. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes #82 and #83, featuring CDC experts and families living with FASD, coming later this month. https://mothertobabypodcast.libsyn.com/fasd-discovery-and-prevalence

01/14/2025

Are you a healthcare provider? Join us on Friday, January 31st at 9 am PST for our FREE Zoom webinar! Dr. Noemi Alice Spinazzi of the American Academy of Pediatrics will be discussing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) from the pediatric perspective.

This event is FREE for participants, but you must register in advance! Visit https://momtobaby.org/FASDwebinar2025 to reserve your spot today.

11/07/2024

Download MotherToBaby’s new LactRx App, the go-to resource for information on environmental exposures while breastfeeding! Available now on the App Store and Google Play. Find more details here: https://mothertobaby.org/lactrx/