Medication in Pregnancy and Breast Feeding
It is best to review any medication that you are taking with your doctor at your preconception counseling appointment and again at your first prenatal appointment.
Do not stop any prescription medication until you review with the prescribing physician and your OB.
During your first trimester, it’s generally best to avoid taking over the counter medication if possible.
Below is a list of commonly used medication that is safe in pregnancy
Allergie Medication
- Antihistamines
- Claritin
- Zyrtec
- Allegra
- Benadryl
- Nasal preparations (steroid)
- Flonase
- Nasacort
- Antihistamine with a Decongestant – Avoid decongestants in the last several weeks of pregnancy, as they may aggravate blood pressure.
- Claritin-D
- Zyrtec-D
Cold and Flu Medication
- Same medications as used with allegies.
- Cough Suppressants and Expectorants – Avoid decongestants in the last several weeks of pregnancy, as they may aggravate blood pressure.
- Robitussin (plain of DM)
- Sudafed
- Mucinex
- Theraflu
- Common Cold preparations
- Chloraseptic
- Halls or Vicks Couch Drops
- ocean nasal spray
Headache Medication
- Tylenol, extra strength – It is recommended that you do not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen a day.
Heartburn Medication
- Antacids
- Rolaids
- Tums
- Maalox
- Mylanta
- H2 receptor agonists and proton pump inhibitors
- Prilosec
- Pepcid
- Zantac,
- Prevacid
We have included a link to help identify medications as well as any household toxins that may be harmful during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, women should not use tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or prescription medications for nonmedical reasons. Avoiding these substances and getting regular prenatal care are important to having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby
Tobacco
When a woman smokes cigarettes during pregnancy, her fetus is exposed to many harmful chemicals. Nicotine is one of 4,000 chemicals that can pass from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
Nicotine damages a fetus’s brain and lungs. This damage is permanent. Nicotine also causes blood vessels to narrow, so less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the fetus.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of:
- Preterm birth and preterm rupture of membranes
- Low birth weight
- Birth defects such as cleft lip (a split in the upper lip)
- Higher rates of colic (uncontrollable crying and irritability)
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Childhood asthma and obesity
Avoid e-cigarettes—or “vaping”—during pregnancy.
Alcohol
Alcohol can interfere with the normal growth of a fetus and cause birth defects. When a woman drinks during pregnancy, her fetus can develop lifelong problems. It is safest not to drink at all while you are pregnant.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe disorder that can be caused by drinking during pregnancy.
Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause:
- Growth problems
- Mental disability
- Behavioral problems
- Abnormal facial features
Marijuana
Marijuana used during pregnancy is associated with attention and behavioral problems in children. Some studies suggest that marijuana use may increase the risk of stillbirth and the risk that babies will be smaller than babies who are not exposed to marijuana before birth. For these reasons, you should not use marijuana in any form during pregnancy.
Other Drug Use
The early stage of pregnancy is the time when main body parts of the fetus form. Using illegal drugs or misusing prescription medication early in pregnancy can cause birth defects and miscarriage.
During the later weeks of pregnancy, illegal drug use can interfere with the growth of the fetus and cause preterm birth and fetal death. Babies born to women who used illegal drugs during pregnancy may need specialized care after birth. These babies have an increased risk of long-term medical and behavioral problems.