There are no medicines that have been proven to be absolutely safe when a woman is pregnant. There are some that are generally thought to be safe, but others can enter the fetus. Some may not affect the baby while it is in the womb, but it may have effects later in the baby’s life. The greatest risk to the fetus is in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Many over-the-counter medications are thought to be safe for a woman to take when she is pregnant. Today, many over-the-counter medications state on the label whether or not they should be taken during pregnancy.

FDA Ratings

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually has a way of rating drugs as to whether or not they are safe for a woman to take during pregnancy. If drugs are rated as Category A, it means that they have been tested and found safe for a woman to take while she is pregnant. A sampling of these drugs includes folic acid, thyroid medication, and vitamin B6.

Category B drugs have been widely used during pregnancy and they are not believed to cause any problems. Some of these drugs include certain antibiotics, ibuprofen (only up to the third trimester), acetaminophen, famotidine, prednisone, insulin, and aspartame.

Category C drugs may cause harm to the mother or fetus. This category also includes drugs that are still in the process of being tested. A woman should carefully discuss any category C drugs with her doctor prior to taking them. Because they include components such as antidepressants sometimes they are prescribed if the benefits outweigh the negative possibilities.

Definite Harm

Drugs that are proven to cause definite harm are classified as Category D. Chemotherapy drugs, alcohol, and lithium are some of the drugs in this category. Category X drugs should absolutely never be taken during pregnancy because they definitely cause birth defects.

Even though the FDA has issued these findings, pregnant women should discuss any drug they are considering taking with their doctor prior to doing so. Different pregnancies have different circumstances and certain medications can only be taken at certain stages. It is better to be safe than sorry, so a consultation with a doctor is a must.