What if I have been exposed to a medication or chemical during my pregnancy?

Certain medications or chemicals may be associated with an increased risk of congenital birth defects and/or complications in the neonatal period. The risks will depend on the medication and/or chemical and the gestational age when the exposure occurred.

If you are taking a medication and become pregnant, we recommend that you contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine if the medication is safe to take in pregnancy. You should not stop taking a medication unless advised to do so by your healthcare provider. Many times it is safer for a pregnant woman to continue the medication during her pregnancy than for her to stop the necessary medical treatment. If you are considering a pregnancy and taking a medication, we recommend that you contact your healthcare provider to discuss if you should continue that medication or switch to a different medication that would be safer in pregnancy. Unfortunately, there is very limited information on the safety of use during pregnancy for over 90% of prescription medications.