4 tips on medication use during pregnancy
My first and only pregnancy was a very difficult one. I was on bed rest for over a month, and I went into premature labor. Sadly, my baby did not survive, but that experience motivated me to work to help other women have healthy pregnancies. For the past 15 years, I have made pregnancy outreach and education a major part of my work with women and their families.
When I took over the initiative, I learned that 50% of all pregnant women take at least one medicine. Some of these women take medicines for chronic health problems like high blood pressure, asthma, or epilepsy. Other women take medicines before they realize they are pregnant. No matter the reason they need to take medicines, many women have questions about how the medicines will affect them and their babies.
Today, I want to share four tips on medication use during pregnancy to help you learn more about how prescription and over-the-counter medicines might affect you and your baby. Use these tips to talk with your health care provider about your medicines.
Some medicines are not safe to take when you are pregnant. Always talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before you start taking any medicines, herbs, or vitamins. Ask what medicines you should avoid during each trimester of your pregnancy.
If you are already taking medicine, don’t stop taking or change your medicines unless your healthcare provider says that it is OK. Ask if you will need to change your medicine during pregnancy.
Check the drug label and other information you get with your medicine to learn about the possible risks for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The labeling tells you what is known about how the medicine might affect pregnant women. Your health care provider can help you decide if you should take the medicine.
Some websites say certain drugs are safe to take during pregnancy, but you should check with your health care provider first. Every woman’s body is different. A product that works for one person may not be safe for you.
Tell your health care provider about any problems you have with your medicine.
Safe medication use is an important part of having a healthy pregnancy. These four tips don’t tell you everything you may want to know about medicines and pregnancy, but they can help you start the conversation with your health care provider.
When I took over the initiative, I learned that 50% of all pregnant women take at least one medicine. Some of these women take medicines for chronic health problems like high blood pressure, asthma, or epilepsy. Other women take medicines before they realize they are pregnant. No matter the reason they need to take medicines, many women have questions about how the medicines will affect them and their babies.
Today, I want to share four tips on medication use during pregnancy to help you learn more about how prescription and over-the-counter medicines might affect you and your baby. Use these tips to talk with your health care provider about your medicines.
1. Ask questions
Some medicines are not safe to take when you are pregnant. Always talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before you start taking any medicines, herbs, or vitamins. Ask what medicines you should avoid during each trimester of your pregnancy.
If you are already taking medicine, don’t stop taking or change your medicines unless your healthcare provider says that it is OK. Ask if you will need to change your medicine during pregnancy.
2. Read the label
Check the drug label and other information you get with your medicine to learn about the possible risks for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The labeling tells you what is known about how the medicine might affect pregnant women. Your health care provider can help you decide if you should take the medicine.
3. Be smart online
Some websites say certain drugs are safe to take during pregnancy, but you should check with your health care provider first. Every woman’s body is different. A product that works for one person may not be safe for you.
4. Report problems
Tell your health care provider about any problems you have with your medicine.
Safe medication use is an important part of having a healthy pregnancy. These four tips don’t tell you everything you may want to know about medicines and pregnancy, but they can help you start the conversation with your health care provider.
By Kimberly A. Thomas, M.P.H., Director of Outreach and Communications, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women’s Health.
