Texas TIPS is a free and confidential telephone counseling service that is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The genetic counselors who manage the service provide information regarding all types of harmful exposures (also called teratogens) that may occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding , i.e. prescription and/or over-the-counter medications, alcohol, illegal drugs, etc. Information is provided in a non-judgmental manner to anyone who is seeking answers and guidance, from concerned, expecting mothers to the health care professionals that care for them.
A teratogen is any agent that may interfere with the normal development of a fetus and result
in the loss of a pregnancy, a birth defect, or a pregnancy complication. Teratogens can be medications, illegal drugs, infectious diseases, or environmental agents. Some examples of teratogens are, alcohol, persistent high fever, toluene, thalidomide and maternal
infections with rubella.
To find out more about teratogens click here.
- Check out our handout.
- Texas TIPS answers some common questions in the HealthLEADER.
Hello? Is my baby OK? .
Teratogens for pregnancy through newborns
- Did you know that some teratogens can actually be more concentrated to the baby during breastfeeding, causing the infant to have stronger symptoms than to the mother?
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