Center for Better Beginnings

09/23/2025

We moved for FASD! 🏃‍♀️🪑
Our UC San Diego Center for Better Beginnings team showed up to raise awareness and build community.
Move FASD is about getting bodies moving and conversations started because 1 in 20 Americans live with FASD. Together, we’re inviting new partners and giving FASD a seat at the table. ❤️
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08/15/2025

A takeaway from this year’s international RheumaPreg 2025 meeting was: we need to protect women through research, not from research.

Read more about the conference here:

Advancing Care at the Intersection of Rheumatology and Pregnancy: Key Takeaways from RheumaPreg 2025 | UCB

08/14/2025

The American College of Rheumatology released updated guidelines for the screening, treatment and management of lupus nephritis in non-pregnant populations. Read more on their website, keeping in mind the guidelines may be adjusted during pregnancy and breastfeeding:

ACR's full guidelines on screening, treatment and management of are now available and emphasize continuous care, shared decision-making, and more.

08/13/2025

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recently released updated guidelines for lupus treatment and management in non-pregnant adults and children. The guidelines propose broad, routine use of hydroxychloroquine; minimizing glucocorticoid exposure; and timely introduction of standard and/or biologic immunosuppressive medications (e.g., cyclophosphamide, mycophenolic acid, azathioprine, methotrexate, belimumab, anifrolumab, and anti-CD20 therapies).

Read more here, but keep in mind the guidelines may be adjusted during pregnancy and breastfeeding: https://bit.ly/45qv7M2

The following transcript is automatically generated and may contain typos or misspellings. Please listen to the episode for the most accurate language.

08/13/2025

Researchers and engineers at Northwestern University have created and are pilot testing a wearable, noninvasive device that can provide real-time monitoring of how much breastmilk a baby is drinking while breastfeeding! More research is needed, but the device could help parents and clinicians who are tracking an infant’s nutritional intake. Read about it here: https://bit.ly/4mywYFg

See how a new noninvasive wearable tracks how much milk baby is getting in real time—easing stress for parents and offering vital support for NICU babies or those struggling to gain weight.

08/11/2025

How can lupus outcomes be improved among underserved and marginalized populations? Rheumatologist Dr. Margrit Wiesendanger and the AJMC discuss – watch the video or read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/4oqdZhU

Margrit Wiesendanger, MD, PhD, highlights how social determinants of health and equitable treatment access are critical to improving lupus outcomes, particularly in minority populations.

08/09/2025

MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies at the Center for Better Beginnings is hiring a Marketing Communications Assistant! You’ll develop print & digital ads, manage WordPress sites and social media, design graphic and content, and coordinate outreach and forge partnerships.

Apply 👉: employment.ucsd.edu/marketing-communications-assistant-hybrid-136065/job/29233716
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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