Is it safe to take medication during pregnancy?
During pregnancy everything you take into your body passes to your baby through the placenta so it is wise to avoid taking any medications unless absolutely necessary. The developing foetus cannot get rid of medication as easily as the mother can. This means the foetus can receive higher doses of the drugs you are taking, which may put its development at risk.

Avoiding medication, even over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, is particularly important during the first eight weeks of pregnancy, when your baby’s heart, lungs, brain and nervous system are developing.

Which medicines should I avoid during pregnancy?

It is not always possible to completely avoid all medications during pregnancy. Some women with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or epilepsy will need to take medication during their pregnancy to treat or control their illness.

If you take regular medication it is important that you talk to your doctor prior to becoming pregnant in order to plan the safest use of your medicine during your pregnancy. Do not stop taking regular medication without consulting your doctor first.

If you are suffering from a minor illness such as a cough, cold or headache try to ease your symptoms by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. If you need to, you can safely take paracetamol for pain relief.
Avoid aspirin, particularly in the last three months of pregnancy unless it is specifically prescribed. Aspirin can affect the ability of your blood to clot and may cause excessive bleeding in childbirth and in the postnatal period. It is also transferred in breast milk, which may be harmful to your baby.

If you develop an infection during pregnancy and your doctor prescribes antibiotics it is important that you take them exactly as prescribed.

If you are buying any medication, let the pharmacist know that you are pregnant.
Ask your doctor to explain the risks and benefits of any medications you have been prescribed.

What if I have taken medication before I knew I was pregnant?

Don’t panic! Many women have taken medication during the first weeks of pregnancy and their babies have suffered no ill-effects. If you are trying for a baby it is better to err on the side of caution and avoid taking any type of medication pre-conceptually or during pregnancy. While some medicines are considered safe to take during pregnancy, testing the effects of drugs on the developing foetus would be unethical and therefore the effects, if any, of a wide variety of drugs remain unknown.
 

What about natural remedies – are they safe?

No studies have been carried out to test the effects of natural or herbal medicines on pregnant women and their babies. It is wise to avoid any medicine, herbal or otherwise, without first discussing it with your doctor.