Current studies indicate that approximately 4% of women in the USA use illicit drugs while pregnant. Seventy five percent of these cases report the use of marijuana. Despite the widespread use of this product, the public is not aware of the potential neurobehavioral effects of this drug on the fetus or the newborn infant.

Head lice or Pediculus humanus capitis, attack as many as 12 million children every year. Lice are spread by direct contact with infested hair. Sharing combs, brushes, beds, and hats may also contribute to the spread of these parasites. Lice infestations in the U.S. are more frequent in girls and lead to stigma and absenteeism from school or day care.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) also known as “morning sickness” is one of the most common conditions of pregnancy that affect approximately 80% of pregnant women.  Although the cause is still unknown (many theories exist), we do know that most women have resolution of symptoms by the time they are 16 weeks pregnant.

Pregnancy leads to a range of skin changes among women. Some women experience no skin changes while others can experience severe acne, discoloration, or pigmentation. Acne is a common concern among pregnant women. Various treatments are available, but the safety of these modalities during pregnancy should be a concern. Current evidence for the safety of acne treatment is limited. A generalized overview of the various treatments used for acne and their safety in pregnancy is presented here. A brief overview of other skincare products commonly used during pregnancy and their safety concerns is also mentioned.

Insect bites are certainly annoying, but they can also transmit disease. In the USA alone,  insect bites can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, chikungunya, and dengue fever to name a few.

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a water-soluble B vitamin that takes part in several critical functions in the human body. The active form of folate is tetrahydrofolic acid. It serves in one carbon reductions reactions. These reactions are involved in synthesis of nucleotides and amino acids.

Tobacco use during pregnancy is the most important modifiable risk factor associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Research has shown that smoking during pregnancy causes many health problems for both mothers and babies, such as infertility, placental rupture, abnormal placental implantation, preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) or early rupture of the amniotic sac membrane, premature birth, stillbirth, low-birth-weight infant, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

For most women, pregnancy is generally considered a period of emotional well-being for the woman and her family. However, many women suffer from an increased vulnerability to psychiatric conditions during pregnancy and after delivery. It is important to evaluate mothers for psychiatric disorders such as antenatal depression, postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis before and after delivery, because they are common and may be undiagnosed or hidden from the physician.