For Consumers
Pregnancy
The FDA has lots of resources to help you make good choices about the medicines, foods, and other products that are safe for you and your baby. |
Some women need to take medicines during pregnancy for health problems like diabetes, depression, morning sickness or seizures. Always talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before taking any medicines, vitamins or herbs. Don't stop taking your prescription medicines unless your health care provider says that it is OK.
Use the resources on this page to help you talk with your health care provider about the products that are safe for you to use during your pregnancy.
- Fact Sheet - Medicine and Pregnancy
- Fact Sheet - Los medicamentos y el embarazo
- Pregnancy Registries (for women who take prescription medicines during pregnancy)
- Registries help Moms measure medication risks
- Medication Guides
Pregnancy makes it harder for your body to fight off illness caused by food. Some foods are not safe for you and your baby. Check out these food safety tips.
- Food Safety at Home
- Food Safety for Moms-To-Be
- Checklist of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy (foodsafety.gov)
- What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish
- Lo que Used Necesita Saber Sobre el Mercurio en el Pescado y los Mariscos
- Common Questions about Listeria
The FDA has general tips on how to safely use a breast pump and store breast milk. Talk to your health care provider for other breastfeeding tips.
- Breast Pumps
- Breast Pumps: Don't Be Misled - Get the Facts
- How to Store Breast Milk
- Using Breast Milk from Another Woman
- Using Codeine Products while Nursing/Breastfeeding
- Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually
- Depression
- Cord Blood Banking
- Treating and Preventing Hemorrhoids
General Pregnancy Resources
- text4baby - Free text messages for pregnant women and new moms
- MedlinePlus - Links to other goverment resources for pregnant women
- womenshealth.gov - Helpful tips on pregnancy
- Flu.gov - Pregnant Women and the Flu
- CDC - Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes and Pregnancy
NIH - Gestational Diabetes March of Dimes - OTIS (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Call OTIS to speak with a counselor about taking medicines while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 1-866-626-6847.