Women who are trying to get pregnant and who have any form of phenylketonuria are encouraged to seek counseling about their risks for adverse fetal effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that counseling take place before parents begin the process of trying to conceive.<\/p>\n
Phenylketonuria, or PKU, is a metabolism disorder that mothers can pass on to their children. If untreated, PKU can cause intellectual and developmental disabilities. A person with PKU cannot process a protein called phenylalanine, or Phe, found in most foods. When Phe levels get too concentrated, it can damage the brain, according to the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n
Babies born in hospitals in the United States are regularly tested for PKU immediately after they are born in order to diagnose them and begin treatment.<\/p>\n
The AAP warns that if pregnant women with PKU do not keep a close eye on their Phe levels they may be putting their unborn (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Women who are trying to get pregnant and who have any form of phenylketonuria are encouraged to seek counseling about their risks for adverse fetal effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that counseling take place before parents begin the…<\/span><\/p>\n