Is It Safe for My Baby? - Introduction

This booklet gives information about the relative risk and safety of prescription, over-the-counter and illegal drugs, along with alcohol, tobacco and other substances to the unborn baby (fetus) when the mother is pregnant (See Part I) and the baby when breastfeeding (See Part II). It also provides recommendations to discuss with your health care provider.

The booklet is for women who are planning a pregnancy, who are pregnant or are breastfeeding. It is also for people who care and are concerned about someone in their life who is pregnant or breastfeeding. This may be a family member, a friend or a health care professional interested in using this booklet as a reference tool for their patients/clients.

While the information in this booklet is a good starting point, it should not replace the advice women can get from their health care provider. In fact, women may want to use this booklet to prepare themselves for more in-depth talks with their doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

As well as your health care provider, another great resource is Motherisk.

Please note that the following sections are organized by drug category. When talking about specific drugs, we have included the generic/chemical name, followed by the trade/brand name, which is capitalized. The examples given are some of the most commonly used drugs, but do not necessarily include all drugs in that category. If you are confused or unsure about which category a specific drug or substance is listed under, you can check with a pharmacist. An index lists all the categories, generic/chemical and trade/brand names used in this booklet.

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