Health Topics for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department of Pediatrics

UI Family Care Center

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Drugs during pregnancy

While you are pregnant, almost everything you eat, drink, or smoke passes through your body to your baby. That is why drugs can be harmful to your baby.

The word "drugs" includes:

• legal drugs
• prescription drugs
• over-the-counter medications
• illegal substances and
• illegal drugs

Legal drugs include cigarettes and alcohol. Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be small at birth or to be born too early. Alcohol can cause mental retardation, problems with growth, and abnormal facial features.

Prescription drugs can also cause problems. Some acne medicines can cause birth defects. So can some medicines that are used to treat seizures. The antibiotic, tetracycline, can cause changes in a baby's teeth and bones if taken late in pregnancy. Tranquilizers can be addictive to both the baby and mother.

Aspirin used near the end of pregnancy can cause longer labors, more bleeding during delivery, and an increased chance of stillbirth. Check with your healthcare provider before taking aspirin or any other over-the-counter drug.

Illegal drugs can cause very serious problems when used while pregnant:

• cocaine disturbs the normal sleep cycle of babies and can cause damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, or bones
• amphetamines or speed can cause heart defects in your baby and
• marijuana can cause you to have a smaller than normal baby

Illegal drug use has another risk. Women who share needles to inject drugs or who have unprotected sex risk getting HIV. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A woman who has HIV during her pregnancy can pass the virus to her baby. If you are pregnant, check with your provider before taking any drug.

If you are using drugs, STOP. If you want help to stop, ask your provider about treatment programs. Give your baby a great birthday present--a healthy start!

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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