“While many commonly taken medications are considered safe for unborn babies, the Food and Drug Administration estimates that 10 percent or more of birth defects result from medications taken during pregnancy,” Brody writes. She goes on to quote Siobhan:

Dr. Dolan, who is author, with Alice Lesch Kelly, of the March of Dimes’ newest book, Healthy Mom Healthy Baby, emphasized the importance of weighing benefits and risks in deciding whether to take medication during pregnancy and which drugs to take.

Women should check with their doctors before taking any medication during pregnancy. In her article, Brody writes, “Among medications a woman should be certain to avoid, in some cases starting three months before becoming pregnant, are isotretinoin (Accutane and others) for acne; valproic acid for seizure disorders; lithium for bipolar disorder; tetracycline for infections, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists for hypertension, Dr. Dolan said.”

I co-wrote HEALTHY MOM, HEALTHY BABY with Siobhan Dolan, M.D., OB/GYN, medical advisor to the March of Dimes. The book is designed for women at all stages of pregnancy. It provides the most accurate, up-to-date pregnancy health information including everything moms and their partners need to know before pregnancy, while they’re expecting,  during labor and delivery, and into baby’s first few weeks of life. HEALTHY MOM, HEALTHY BABY is a practical, accessible, friendly guide with clear explanations, research-based recommendations, and sensible advice for the healthiest pregnancy possible.

The publication of HEALTHY MOM, HEALTHY BABY kicks off the March of Dimes’ year-long 75th anniversary celebration. During those 75 years, MOD has has devoted more than $4 billion to supporting scientific research and educational initiatives that have improved the lives of moms and babies in the U.S. and throughout the world.