Show
Most women take some kind of drug, substance or medication during pregnancy, sometimes without realising the potential for harm. Sometimes people find it hard to stop because of their past life experiences and social stress. Drugs or medication taken by the mother may cross the placenta and impact on the developing fetus. The possible effects may include infant withdrawal from substances, developmental delay, intellectual disability, birth defects, miscarriage and stillbirth. You should always give your doctor, midwife and pharmacist a full list of all the medications you take, or have recently taken, including:
You should also tell your doctor or midwife if you smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs, even if you only take them occasionally or socially. Alcohol and other drugs or medication can cause harm by:
The potential for harm to the pregnancy and unborn baby depends on a range of factors. These include:
Some drugs, substances or medications may be harmful during pregnancy, depending on the amount and frequency of use. These include:
Drugs may be mixed or ‘cut’ with unknown substances. These unknown substances can also be harmful to the pregnancy or fetus. Birth defects and medicines taken during pregnancyThe risk of a birth defect for any baby is about four per cent, regardless of the circumstances during pregnancy. This means that even a woman who strictly avoids drugs and medications while pregnant may still have a baby with a birth defect. Most medicines are not harmful to a developing baby. However, some may interfere with the normal development of a fetus and cause birth defects (these medicines are said to be ‘teratogenic’). Teratogenic drugs and medicinesNumerous drugs or drug groups may cause birth defects in a developing fetus, including:
This list is not complete. For example, the teratogenic effects of illegal drugs (such as cannabis or amphetamines) are not clear, because of the lack of medical studies. Pregnancy risk classification for medicinesMedicines in Australia are given a risk category by the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee for drugs used in pregnancy, according to their safety information. This category applies only to recommended doses. The classifications include:
See your doctor or pharmacist for further information and explanation. Medicines that may be necessary during pregnancyGood health in the mother is vital to ensure healthy development and growth of her unborn baby. Women with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, diabetes or mental health conditions) must continue treatment with appropriate medications during pregnancy. Sometimes, a prescription medication has the potential to cause harm to the baby. However, stopping the prescribed medication could also pose a threat to both the mother and her baby. For example:
In some cases, your doctor may be able to prescribe a similar medication that is considered safer to use during pregnancy. Illnesses (such as an acute respiratory infection like pneumonia) or complications during pregnancy (such as pre-eclampsia) may be treated with prescription drugs. Do not stop taking or alter the dose of a prescribed medicine without the knowledge and consent of your doctor. Untreated, some illnesses or pregnancy complications may risk the health of the mother or baby, or both. Discuss any concerns you may have about medicines with your doctor or midwife. Smoking and alcohol during pregnancySome pregnant women may be unaware that smoking and consuming alcohol and caffeinated drinks during pregnancy could risk the health of their unborn baby. For example:
Alcohol consumption during pregnancyDrinking alcohol during pregnancy has been associated with miscarriage, babies who are small for their gestational age and intellectual impairment in children (known as fetal alcohol syndrome). No completely safe level of alcohol consumption has been determined for pregnant women. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations for women who are pregnant, or might soon become pregnant, are that:
Note: A standard drink contains 10 g of alcohol. Illegal drugs and pregnancyKnowledge on the effects of illegal drugs during pregnancy is limited. Substances with some known effects include:
Drugs used to treat heroin and other opioid dependenceMethadone and buprenorphine are prescription drugs, sometimes called pharmacotherapies. They are used to help treat heroin and opioid dependency. The risks to the fetus and pregnancy associated with heroin use are greatly reduced with both of these treatments. The benefits of pharmacotherapy are reduced if you continue to use heroin or other drugs. Be guided by your doctor, but general recommendations include:
Using alternatives to medications during pregnancyWhenever possible, use non-drug alternatives to manage minor health concerns during pregnancy. For example:
Where to get help
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. |