Red thread, the free genetic and obstetric consultancy service dedicated to pregnant women

He has eight children, 17 years old the eldest, one month and a half the last. « Important names, » lists them. Carlotta, Giuditta, Maria Sole, Pietro, Gregorio, Agostino, Filippo and Constantine who demands attention to the sound of screams while the mother tells: « I have many children of children more if we count those I helped to be born with my advice ».

Elisa Valmori, 44 years old, Milanese gynecologist, responds by red thread, the open line from ASM (Italian Association of Studio Malformazioni Onlus) to offer a consultancy service on pregnancy and health of the unborn child. «They call me to trust fear or to receive comfort. Above all, they are afraid that taking some drugs can harm the fetus. Very often they are anxiolytics and in this case we contact the treating psychiatrist because the possible suspension of the therapy could damage the mother altering her psychic balance in such an important phase « . The theme of psychotropic drugs He is recurring. «Unfortunately doctors are available to prescribe them. A compromise should be found, balancing the needs of the mother with the protection of the little one cared for in the womb. She could feel threatened by the sudden change due to the new hormonal state ». He adds: «In this listening work I focus on the voice of women. From the tone and inflection it is possible to guess if on the other side there is suffering or tranquility « .

Elisa Valmori deals with the red thread from 2015. He was specializing in Obstetrics-Ginecology at San Paolo where one of the offices of the service was located, then managed by Alberto Finardi who could no longer occupy for health reasons one day he proposed to her: « Would you like to save lives? Then take my place ». For family commitments related to the large offspring, today the line is managed directly from its home, in Trezzano del Naviglio. Asm activated a second location in Rome and a third in Varese, managed by a geneticist. They call from all over Italy, even from abroad. Women become attached to these friendly voices and continue to want to listen to them even after the birth of children or after having solved the problem that had pushed them to seek help.

Between The most frequent fears that of dental care During the gestation: «Unfortunately numerous dentists are convinced that they cannot make local anesthesia. It’s wrong. The teeth must be treated because an infection or abscess can in the long run compromising the good performance of a pregnancy. Orthopanoramic is also compatible with the interesting state ».

Emblematic stories. Monica took antiepilepticshe feared he could stop precious pregnancy, which arrived at the age of 42. He was afraid that drugs generated malformations. Now he is a happy mom. Maria Cristina had discovered with a prenatal exam that the child was suffering from a teratoMe, a tumor derived from germ cells. He was obsessed with the thought of being the cause for unsuitable behaviors: «It is not so. The child was operated on after birth. Maria Cristina continues to call me for other advice ». The fear of mammography persists. « It is not necessary to stop pregnancy after having made one while already expecting. »

The red thread is one of the ASM objectives. Disclose the most advanced scientific knowledge on gestation and neonatal erain particular on prevention and care of congenital diseases. The phone has been active since 1988 and offers free medical advice, specialists in obstetrics and genetics respond. Tens of thousands of women called. Here are the contacts.

Milan headquarters: 028910207, Rome- Polyclinic Tor Vergata 06 20905566. Varese-Genetic Medical Salaboer University Insubria 0332 217100.