Why the Push to Include More Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Research Matters
TL;DR Pregnant and breastfeeding research has historically left out the very people it’s meant to protect. That means for decades, parents have been forced to guess about the safety of medications, vaccines, and treatments during pregnancy and lactation. Were We Really Left Out? Yes. Intentionally. After tragedies like the thalidomide crisis in the 1960s, researchers became overly cautious. To avoid risks to babies, they began excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women from nearly all clinical trials. The result was a massive lack of information. Instead of protection, this created something else entirely. For decades, moms have been told to stop breastfeeding or avoid medication. Not because it was unsafe, but because no one had done the research. Why That’s a Problem Let’s say you get a migraine during pregnancy. Or the flu while breastfeeding. Your doctor might tell you to avoid certain medications just to be safe. Not because they know it’s harmful, but because there is no data at all. That lack of information forces parents into impossible decisions. Do you take care of your own health, or protect your baby by avoiding treatment? Without research, providers cannot give clear, confident answers. The COVID Vaccine Example When the COVID vaccine was first released, it wasn’t tested on pregnant or breastfeeding people. Not because there was a specific risk, but because they weren’t included in the trials. Eventually, real-world data from thousands of moms showed that the vaccine was safe and effective during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But in the early days, families were left confused and worried. Many people delayed getting protected. All of that could have been avoided if parents had been part of the trials from the beginning. What’s Changing Now Organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are calling for change. They want pregnancy and lactation to be considered in research from the start. That means designing studies that include moms, not automatically exclude them. There are now ethical research guidelines that show how to include pregnant and lactating people safely. Researchers are starting to see that the real risk is in not knowing. Why This Affects You Including pregnant and breastfeeding women in research helps you in real-time. It also sets the foundation for more supportive care in the future. Here’s how: You get real answers instead of vague warnings. Feeding plans don’t have to be interrupted “just in case.” Doctors can offer treatment that is based on evidence, not fear. It builds trust between parents and the medical system. Better data means better care for you and for everyone who comes after you. What You Can Do You don’t need a medical degree to be part of the solution. Here are a few small but powerful steps: Ask your provider whether medications or vaccines have been tested for your situation. Use reliable tools like LactMed or MotherToBaby to check safety information. Consider joining a research study if you feel comfortable. Speak up when guidance feels unclear. The more we ask questions, the more the system pays attention. Final Sip Pregnant and breastfeeding people should never be treated as an afterthought in science. You deserve care that is built on facts, not fear. You deserve clear answers, not guesswork. And you deserve to know that your experience matters enough to be studied. When moms are included in research, everyone wins. The next generation of parents gets better care because of the steps you take today. Looking for evidence-based support that speaks directly to your real life? The Everyboob app offers feeding tools, expert advice, and a community that actually gets it.
