You could be taking some kind of drug, substance, or medication during pregnancy, often without realizing the potential for harm it poses to your unborn child. Drugs or medication taken by the mother may cross the placenta and reach the developing fetus. The possible effects may include developmental delay, intellectual disability, birth defects miscarriage, and stillbirth.
You should always give your doctor, midwife, and pharmacist a full list of all the medications you take, or have recently taken, including:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter medicines
- nutrition supplements (such as vitamins)
- complementary therapies (such as herbal medicine).
You should also tell your doctor or midwife if you smoke, drink alcohol, or take illegal drugs, even if you only take them occasionally or socially.
Here are some trustworthy information sources for additional information:
- Pregnancy – medication, drugs, and alcohol | Better Health Channel
- Drug Use During Pregnancy | MERCK Manual
- Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs, and Pregnancy | The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Drugs and medicines in pregnancy | Tommy’s
- Medicines During Pregnancy | Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
