Let’s kick off the first edition of my revamped newsletter with a super important topic I need you to be in the know about — but wish I didn’t have to cover in the year 2025:
In the news: measles and pregnancy
You’ve probably heard by now, but measles is making a comeback (and not in a good way) as we are currently experiencing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. As of March 14th, there have been 326 confirmed cases (the number is likely much higher because of underreporting) and 2 deaths.
Measles cases have been reported in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Vermont, Michigan, New York, California, and Pennsylvania
Here’s what you need to know if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant:
Measles is a deadly and extremely infectious virus. I could go on, but these folks say it best here.
Pregnant people are at increased risk for getting very sick and suffering severe complications from measles.
Measles is preventable because of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
Unfortunately, you cannot get the MMR vaccine in pregnancy because it contains weakened live virus.
Wanting to get pregnant soon and haven’t been vaccinated? Schedule that MMR shot today. We do recommend waiting to TTC for 28 days after vaccination.
If you’ve been exposed to measles, do NOT just walk into clinic or the ER to get checked out. Measles is the most contagious virus out there and if you do this, you could spread the virus and harm many people. Instead, call your provider ASAP and stay isolated until they advise you further.
9 out of 10 folks susceptible to measles will get it if they are in close contact to someone who has it.
If you have concerns about getting your kids the MMR vaccine because of what you’ve heard on social media or from friends, you aren’t alone. I share in this video how that chatter even affected me, even though I knew my kids would be fully vaccinated on schedule:
@drjenniferlincolnI am being vulnerable in sharing this…but in light of current events, I feel I have to. Because let’s be real - we all have that part of our brain that lets what we see on social media take up waaay too much space. And it can have consequences - as we’re seeing in real time. ❓Curious if this ever happened to you as a parent? And advice you’d give others?? #HMFpartner #parentadvice #parentingadvice #momtok #momtokers #obgyn #dadtok #beingvulnerable
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If you have questions about measles or vaccinations, please connect with a healthcare provider you trust to get your questions answered - not social media or folks on the internet without medical training!
Q&A: Breastfeeding and Vaginal Dryness
Q: Why does breastfeeding cause vaginal dryness, and what can help?
A: Breastfeeding lowers estrogen levels, which can lead to temporary vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissue. This can make sex extremely uncomfortable, and sometimes means you can’t even have sex because of the pain. Using lubricant can ease discomfort during intercourse. Taking extra time for foreplay may also help increase your own lubrication. If dryness persists, a healthcare provider might recommend a low-dose vaginal estrogen cream, which is applied locally and has minimal absorption into the bloodstream. Be sure to know this: vaginal estrogen is totally safe to use if you’re breastfeeding!
Want to get your question answered in the BBC newsletter? Shoot me a message and I’ll incorporate them into future newsletters! *no personalized medical advice
Resource of the week
I love a good reference that is useful and accessible at your fingertips, so I want to share the app MommyMeds that helps pregnant and breastfeeding people know if a medication is safe to take (and not just “safe” or “unsafe”, but it actually gives you helpful info to make an informed decision).
I don’t love the name — since not only moms care about this info — but it’s still such a great resource that I couldn’t not share it just because of that. Developed by the folks at the Infant Risk Center out of Texas Tech, you can download this app on your phone and keep it handy (and maybe give them some feedback on the outdated name if you happen to be awake at 3am feeding a baby…).
That’s all for this week, but definitely drop me a comment to let me know your thoughts on the new format!
Until next time,
Dr. Jen
