Every parent-to-be who takes medication wants to be sure that what they put in their bodies doesn’t harm their unborn child.
Now with the new Healthy Pregnancy Hub, finding out what’s safe for mom and baby just got a whole lot easier.
The hub, launched November 19, is an innovative online resource developed by a team of over 70 researchers, including Dr. Sherif Eltonsy, an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy.
“You shouldn’t rely on Dr. Google,” warns Eltonsy, “But that’s what we do – we look things up online.”
As a pharmacoepidemiologist who has spent nearly a decade researching drug safety and effectiveness, the new platform marks a major milestone for Eltonsy. “For years, pregnant women have had to rely on piecemeal information that may be outdated – or worse, turn to Google searches,” he said. “Now, we’re providing a centralized, evidence-based resource that they can trust.”
The hub, part of the Canadian Mother-Child Initiative on Drug Safety in Pregnancy – Outreach (CAMCCO-Outreach), offers bilingual fact sheets, infographics, podcasts and videos. It also includes a chatbot for fast, personalized answers. The site is extensive, covering everything from common medications like acetaminophen to managing chronic conditions like depression, epilepsy and asthma during pregnancy.
“Three out of four pregnant women take medication, yet accessing reliable information has been a challenge,” said Eltonsy. “We’ve designed this resource to empower women and health-care providers to make informed decisions for the safety of both mother and fetus.”
By collaborating with Indigenous groups and culturally diverse communities, the team has also worked to ensure the content is inclusive and sensitive to the needs of underrepresented groups. “Our goal is to provide information that resonates with all Canadians, no matter their background,” Eltonsy said.
“This project has been years in the making. To see it come to fruition – and to know it will make a real difference – is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “It’s about empowering families with knowledge and filling a gap that’s existed for far too long.”
For more information, visit the Healthy Pregnancy Hub at healthypregnancyhub.ca.