Resources Regarding Drug Safety During Pregnancy

Two-thirds of women take prescription medications during pregnancy or breast feeding.  This still causes anxiety and misunderstanding regarding whether the medications may harm the fetus or cause a birth defect.  Therefore, there are key medication considerations for:  analgesics and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, local anesthetics, sedatives and emergency medications.  There are excellent online resources regarding drug safety in pregnancy:  Breast feeding online.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Substance Use During Pregnancy

Effects Of Drug Use During Pregnancy 

Pregnancy complications and birth defects caused by alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use are completely preventable.

The US Surgeon General recommends complete abstinence from alcohol for all women who are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.  Alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, mental retardation, skeletal abnormalities, organ malformations. low birth weight, learning problems, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Tobacco use during pregnancy is associated with ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, placental disruption, placenta previa, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, cleft lip and palate, neonatal mortality and sudden infant death syndrome.

In the United States, approximately 4% of pregnant women use illicit drugs, including marijuana, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines.  This drug use can cause serious problems in the developing fetus and newborn, and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309