Health & Pregnancy

Taking Prescription Medications During Pregnancy

Some medications are considered safe to take during pregnancy. The effects of other meds on your unborn baby are unknown. Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to medications you take while you are pregnant. That's especially true during the first trimester, a crucial time of development for your baby.

If you were taking prescription meds before pregnancy:

Were you taking prescription meds before you became pregnant? If so, ask your doctor about the safety of continuing these medications. Do this as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.

Your doctor will weigh the benefit to you and the risk to your baby when making recommendations about a certain medication. With some meds, the risk of not taking them may be more serious than the potential risk associated with taking them.

If your doctor prescribes any new meds

Inform your doctor that you are pregnant if your doctor prescribes a new medication. Before taking it, be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of the newly prescribed medication with your doctor.