Health Tip: Medications and Pregnancy

Common drugs that may not be safe for baby

Related Encyclopedia • AIDS and HIV Infection • Amenorrhea • Amniocentesis • Amniocentesis and CVS More... Related Healthscout Videos Optimistic Healing Early Babies: How Soon is Too Soon? Aqua Lipo Cancer Detection More... Related Animations • Breast Reduction • Breast Self-Exam Video • Erectile Dysfunction • Facelift More... Related Drug Information • Actonel • Cialis • Detrol LA • Diflucan More... Related News Articles • Folate Levels in Pregnancy Tied to ADHD in Offspring • CDC Study Links 2 Antibiotics to Birth Defects • CDC Finds U.S. 30th in Infant Mortality • Drug Could Help Treat Small HER2-Positive Breast Tumors More...

(HealthDay News) -- You may take certain over-the-counter supplements and medications without thinking twice. But when you're pregnant, even drugs that you can buy without a prescription can affect the developing fetus.

Text Continues Below

---

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines about medications and pregnancy:

• Don't take any medicine or herbal supplement without checking with your doctor.
• Try not to take any medicine during your first trimester of pregnancy, when your baby is most likely to be affected.
• If you are having pain, acetaminophen is usually safe for pregnant women to take for a short period. But you should first check with your doctor.
• Don't take aspirin while you're pregnant.
• Don't take an NSAID -- such as Advil, Motrin or Aleve -- while you're pregnant, particularly during your third trimester.

-- Diana Kohnle