Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Should you be taking medicines while pregnant?

NewFolks
By

Unfortunately for most women, pregnancy comes with a few side effects. These can range from slightly annoying to being disruptive to your daily routine. You might have a raging headache or relentless morning sickness, and if so, you’re probably wondering what the cure is! Can you take over-the-counter medicines while pregnant?

While you should always consult a physician for any medical-related questions, we have the basics on medication during pregnancy laid out for you.

Pregnany woman talking with pharmacist
Geber86 / Getty Images

Ranking medicine safety

Some medications are perfectly fine to take while pregnant, while others should be avoided at all costs. This is because some medicines reach your unborn child and can affect their growth or development negatively. For a majority of medications — more than 90% — there is little data on their safety during pregnancy. Those medicines that have been adequately researched are placed into a pregnancy category.

Recommended Videos

In the United States, category A is considered the safest, and is reserved for medications that have not been linked to any risk during pregnancy in controlled human trials. On the other hand, the benefits of a category X medication are outweighed by its drawbacks; these are medicines that have been shown to cause fetal abnormalities and should not be taken by anyone while pregnant.

Related

Category D medications are also associated with some risk, but there may be some cases in which they are medically necessary. Medicines that have not been classified into a particular category due to a lack of sufficient research are marked as category N.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications

So, it might be a given that prescription medicines are put into a pregnancy category when possible, but is the same true for over-the-counter medicines? Yes, it is. Due to the prevalence of OTC medicines, more research on their safety is available than your average prescription drug. However, a general rule is that you should not take any medication during pregnancy unless it is absolutely necessary, as nearly every drug crosses the placenta to your fetus. An exception to that rule is the daily prenatal vitamin, which is recommended for every pregnant woman.

Be very cautious of taking other medicines, though, and discuss any medicines you might want to take with your doctor ahead of time. Some medications that are perfectly fine for a non-pregnant woman can be detrimental to a baby’s growth in utero. Yet, other medicines are OK only during certain periods of your pregnancy.

OTC medications to avoid while pregnant include ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as Pepto-Bismol and some antihistamines. These are by far the most commonly taken OTC medicines that cannot be taken while pregnant. However, this list is not exhaustive.

Prescription drugs

Similar to OTC drugs, some prescription drugs are OK to take during pregnancy while others are not. When you find out you are pregnant, you should tell your practitioner about any medications you have been prescribed. They will work with you to figure out which are safe to continue taking, and which you might have to discontinue or find an alternative for. Regardless of which drugs you are prescribed, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks of each.

Among frequently used prescription drugs that are unsafe during pregnancy are acne medicines including oral isotretinoin and topical retinoids, thalidomide, fluconazole, tetracycline antibiotics, topiramate, and some psychiatric medications. Luckily, alternatives to many of those drugs exist.

For example, most new generation antipsychotics are thought to be safer to take during pregnancy than lithium for bipolar disorder.

Herbal supplements

In addition to your prescription medications, you should let your doctor know about any herbal supplements you take. Some of these are also unsafe to the growing fetus. Herbs that are known to negatively impact babies in utero are blue and black cohosh, ephedra, pennyroyal and large quantities of garlic, ginger, rosemary, sage, and turmeric (the amounts typically eaten are safe).

Illicit drugs

While illegal substances are harmful to you, they are even worse for a fetus. Most of them pass through the placenta and negatively affect a growing baby. This also includes alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, which are associated with premature birth, birth defects, low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other pregnancy-related issues.

If you abuse opiates, you should not quit them suddenly. Work with your health practitioner to switch to other drugs that will treat your addiction and are less harmful to your baby.

Obstetrician talking with a patient
SDI Productions/Getty Images

No matter the drug of concern, always ask your obstetrician/gynecologist or midwife about the safety of any medication you might take while pregnant. Do this before taking it! Keep in mind that although something might be safe for you, it’s not necessarily safe for your baby.

Meanwhile, read on further and check out healthy meals for pregnant women.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
NewFolks
NewFolks
What is a baby sprinkle (and how to plan a great one)
Why you should at least have a baby sprinkle even if you already have a child
Cake for a baby shower.

We all know the standard pregnancy celebrations. We've seen gender reveal photoshoots all over social media and have been invited or know someone who has gone to at least one baby shower. But what about when someone is having a second baby? Or is having the first girl after two back-to-back boys? Well, that's where having a baby sprinkle comes in handy. Whether it's been a few years since the last little one or you're having one of the opposite gender and only need a few items, here's why a baby sprinkle is the perfect way to welcome this new addition.
What is a baby sprinkle?

If you don't know anything about pregnancy parties, think of it in scientific terms. What is a shower versus a sprinkle when it rains? Not as much water for one as the other, right? Take that and apply it to a baby shower versus a baby sprinkle. Think of a baby sprinkle as that grocery trip where you only need the fillers, and you're not restocking the whole kitchen.
If you already have a baby
If you are parents to one child (or two or three), you probably have most of the stuff you need from the last child. But if there were items you wish you would have grabbed for the first one or you have a list of needs for this next baby, a sprinkle is the perfect forum to get those goods.
If it's been a few years since you've had a baby
Even if you already have a child, maybe this next one is a few years further away than you wanted or planned. A baby sprinkle is the best way to get those items you may have donated, lost, or broke with the first kiddo.
If you have only one gender but find out you are having the other
Have all boys? You will want a sprinkle to get some girl items. Have only girls? You might use a sprinkle to get at least one item that isn't pink. Not that certain colors are meant for boys or girls, but maybe you had a Minnie Mouse-themed nursery, and you'd like your first boy to have a new theme for their nursery.
Let's sprinkle the details
A baby sprinkle isn't going to be exactly like your baby shower. It's more of a low-key event, should be less stressful, and is less formal.

Read more
The feeling words all parents should teach their little ones
Help kids learn how to verbally express their emotions
Building with words asking about feelings

Emotions can run the gamut with kids. A child can be happy and content one minute and then be a puddle of tears the next. Managing emotions becomes increasingly difficult as kids get older. Feelings of frustration often erupt seemingly out of nowhere. Many times, a teen doesn't understand why feelings of anger take hold much like a toddler having a tantrum in public.

As adults, we recognize that feelings are complicated, but understanding them is vital. Feelings are an abstract concept for children. Take the answer to some common parent questions like, "How are you feeling?" or "How was your day?" Kids will typically respond with fine or OK, even if their body language and demeanor are saying something else. Teaching your child how to verbally express their emotions through the use of feeling words forms a firm foundation for emotional well-being.

Read more
What it means if you lose weight during pregnancy – and when to worry
What causes a pregnant woman to lose weight?
A pregnant woman holding her belly in a bathroom

Weight gain is a very real, very normal, and very expected part of pregnancy. Most people are prepared to see the scale going up as their pregnancy progresses, but sometimes they may notice it going down, which can cause some anxiety. Pregnancy requires extra calories and extra nutrition to feed a growing baby, which is why it can be very concerning when a pregnant person notices they are losing weight.

Weight loss during pregnancy may be more common than you think. It isn't necessarily cause for alarm unless it's a consistent pattern throughout the pregnancy and not just a short-lived dip on the scale. Many factors can cause a pregnant person to lose weight, but that doesn't mean it can't be concerning when it happens. You should always consult your doctor if you're concerned about your weight gain or loss during pregnancy, but if you've found yourself asking, "Why am I losing weight while pregnant?" here are a few possible explanations.
It's not uncommon

Read more