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The Genesis Fund
40 Second Avenue
Suite #510
Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: 781-890-4282
Fax: 781-487-2361 |
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 Pregnancy Exposure InfoLine |
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PEIL
The Pregnancy Exposure InfoLine is a confidential telephone information
service available to pregnant women, their partners, obstetricians,
and other health care providers.
The goal of the hotline is to be provide factual up to
date information with regards to exposures and how they
may affect a developing baby. Information ranges from
common daily exposures such as cosmetics and hair dye,
to more specific exposures including infections, medications
and chemicals. No question is too trivial.
The InfoLine is located at the National Birth Defects Center (NBDC), which provides diagnosis and treatment to children born with birth defects (a structural abnormality which develops before birth), genetic diseases and mental retardation in the New England area.
The staff consists of health educators and physicians who have specialized training in genetics, pediatrics, birth defects and teratology.
Please Note: If you live outside the New England Area and you have a question regarding an exposure, please Click here to find a service near you.
Or
If you live in the New England Area, and you are pregnant,
or planning a pregnancy, and are concerned about an exposure,
please click here to Ask a Question.
Phone Number - Toll Free in Massachusetts 1-800-322-5014
or 781-466-8474
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Services
The Pregnancy Exposure Infoline provides confidential and non-judgmental counseling for pregnant women exposed to a potential teratogen based on most up to date medical information.
You will be asked to provide the following information:
 Name, address, daytime phone number.
Pregnancy history; including gestation, date of last menstrual period,
due date, number and outcomes of any previous pregnancies.
The name of the active ingredient in the product you were exposed to.
Dosage and dates of the exposure during pregnancy.
A Teratogen Specialist will respond to the inquiry and provide general information about your exposure. Most inquiries will be answered immediately, while others may require additional research time. A written summary of the information is available at the callers request.
Telephone
If you live outside the New England area, please Click here to locate the Teratogen Information Service in your area.
E-mail
To contact us via email, please fill out our intake form and we will call you with the information you requested. Please click here to Ask a Question.
Genetic Counseling
Some inquiries can be complex, such as exposures to seizure medications or illicit drugs, three or more miscarriages or a family history of a genetic disorder or birth defect. These situations frequently require an in-person genetic counseling session in order to provide a detailed risk assessment. Genetic counseling translates scientific knowledge into practical information associated with the risk of occurrence of a birth defect as a result of genetic or environmental influences. A genetic evaluation attempts to arrive at a diagnosis, provide a management plan, and specific recurrence risks. If you have been referred for genetic counseling and are in the New England area, please contact the National Birth Defects Center at (781) 466-9555 to schedule an appointment, or we can arrange genetic counseling at a center that is best for you. |
Staff
Dr.Nowak
Dr. Catherine Bearce Nowak is a graduate of Dartmouth
College with a degree in Biology and Psychology. She received
her medical degree from McGill University. Following her
pediatric internship and residency at University of Massachusetts
Medical Center, she completed a fellowship in Clinical
Genetics and birth defects at the National Birth Defects
Center with Dr. Feingold. She served in the position of
clinical geneticist at the National Birth Defects Center
and went on to become the Chief of the Genetics division
at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Nowak is board certified
both in pediatrics and in clinical genetics. She is an
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Medical School
and lectures extensively in community hospitals about
topics in genetics.
Murray Feingold, M.D., Associate Director
Dr. Feingold received his undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall College and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed an internship at Allentown General Hospital and completed residencies at the New England Deaconess Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is board-certified in both Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics.
Dr. Feingold has been a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine. He is currently Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. He has written three books and published over 170 medical articles.
Teratogen Information Specialists
Primary contact at PEIL is with the Teratogen Information Specialists. These individuals have various health related backgrounds, including experimental psychology, biology and health education. They receive extensive, on-going training in teratology, embryology, epidemiology, infectious disease, and occupational and environmental health. |
Common Referrals
General Pregnancy, including testing and options:
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
MA Main Line: 800-258-4448
Boston: 617-616-1600
Worcester: 413-732-1620
Rhode Island: 401-421-9620
NH, ME, VT: 800-230-7526
Health Insurance
Healthy Start (800) 531-2229
Mass Health (877) 543-7669
WIC (800) 942-1007
Breastfeeding
Lactation Study Center (medications while breastfeeding, HCP only)
585-275-0088
La Leche League 1-800-525-3243
Pesticide Information
Pesticide Hotline: 800-858-7378
Occupational
MassCosh (617) 825-7233 in Boston or (413) 731-0760 in Western MA
Consumer Advice
Consumer Product Safety Commission 800-638-2772
Services in Other Areas
Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS)
References
Teratology Society
March of Dimes
The Genesis Fund
National Birth Defects Center
Therapy & Performing Arts |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the one glass of champagne I had on New Year's Eve affect my pregnancy?
Although it is not recommended that pregnant women drink alcoholic beverages, small amounts of alcohol, such as a glass of champagne, are usually not harmful.
Can I have my hair dyed or permed during my pregnancy?
Most experts agree that hair treatments are unlikely to pose an increased risk to the fetus and therefore the decision of whether to use them can be a personal one.
I took a cold medication when I was two months along. Is that harmful?
Some Over-the-Counter cold medications can be taken if necessary, but check with your health care provider about taking any cold medications in moderate amounts to treat your individual symptoms.
Can the chemicals at my workplace cause problems during pregnancy?
Certain chemicals and other agents may pose risks to the fetus. Contact the InfoLine with specific chemicals for information.
Is it safe to refinish and paint the baby's room when I am expecting?
It is generally felt that pregnant women should avoid this task. Some chemicals in paints can be hazardous and are not very well studied for use in pregnancy.
My partner works with lead, can that make it difficult to get pregnant?
High levels of lead in the blood can lower sperm count and make it more difficult to become pregnant. A blood lead level can check this.
Chicken pox is going around at the school where I work. My due date is next week. What should I do?
If you have already had chicken pox, you cannot get it again and do not need to worry. If you have never had the chicken pox, contact the InfoLine or your health care provider for more information.
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To Ask a Question...
| Please read our DISCLAIMER before continuing.
If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or have questions about an exposure to a medicaiton, drug, infection, or a chemical, a teratogen specialist is able to assist you.
Please Note: If you live outside the New England Area and you have a question regarding an exposure, please click here to find a service near you.
You may complete the following form and fax it to the InfoLine. We can insure confidentiality ONLY when the information reaches our office.
OR
You may contact the InfoLine directly at (781) 466-8474 or 1-800-322-5014 (for MA residents only).
You will NOT be contacted via e-mail.
After we receive your information, a staff member will contact you by phone. After the phone conversation a written summary will be provided for those who would like to have their response in writing.
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| Pregnancy Exposure InfoLine Questionnaire |
* Required Fields |
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