Harmful Effects in Pregnancy

Follow the links below to find information on the possible harmful effects of drugs, chemicals, alcohol and smoking during pregnancy.

Reviewed January 2012

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Related HealthInsite Topics

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Smoking During Pregnancy

HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on the possible harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy.

35 Resources Found

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2 

Title:   Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   This database is intended to provide information to health professionals planning the medical management of pregnant patients or patients intending to become pregnant. It is not presented as medical advice to health professionals or the public.
Date:   Dec 2011
Title:   Alcohol
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Alcohol is a 'social' drug that affects people in different ways. Recommended limits to reduce health risks from drinking vary. The size of a 'standard' drink also varies according to the type of alcohol. Heavy drinkers and 'binge drinkers' risk serious alcohol-related harm. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may also affect your baby. If you plan to drive, it is better not to drink alcohol.
Date:   Nov 2011
Title:   Alcohol
Publisher:   Inspire Foundation
Description:   Information on why people drink alcohol and its effects.
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Medicines during pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   If you take any prescribed medicines, you should talk to your doctor when you are planning to become pregnant or as soon as you think you are pregnant.
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Illegal drugs during pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   All illegal drugs may affect an unborn baby. These include marijuana (cannabis), cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens and ecstasy.
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Preparing for pregnancy - medicines and other drugs
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   When you are planning to become pregnant it is a very good idea to consider whether medicines and drugs that you are taking may affect fertility and whether they are safe during pregnancy.
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Birth defects - drugs and medications
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Taking drugs while pregnant can be cause birth defects. Drugs such as alcohol, some illegal drugs like cocaine, and some prescription and over-the-counter medications including isotretinoin, vitamin A and some antibiotics are known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Drugs that can cause birth defects are called 'teratogens'.
Date:   Sep 2011
Title:   Pregnancy and epilepsy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Generally speaking, having epilepsy should not prevent a woman planning to have a baby. But making a decision about whether to have a baby if you have epilepsy and need medication can be difficult.
Date:   Sep 2011
Title:   Alcohol during pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Pregnancy and alcohol do not mix. Alcohol can affect your unborn child for life.
Date:   Sep 2011
Title:   In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the process used to conceive a child outside the body. A woman's eggs and man's sperm are placed together in a plastic dish for fertilisation. Once fertilised, the resulting embryos are placed back in the woman's uterus in the hope that a successful pregnancy will follow. The woman may develop a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which may include abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, lower abdominal pain and shortness of breath.
Date:   Jul 2011
Title:   Australian categorisation system for prescribing medicines in pregnancy
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   The Australian categorisation system and database for prescribing medicines in pregnancy have been developed by medical and scientific experts based on available evidence of risks associated with taking particular medicines while pregnant
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Pregnancy and alcohol consumption
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it also enters the bloodstream of her foetus, and when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed they can have damaging effects on the foetus.
Date:   Aug 2010
Title:   Burden of epilepsy: the role of pregnancy registers
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information on epilepsy and pregnancy registers that collect information for research into the effect of antiepileptic treatments during pregnancy.
Date:   May 2010
Title:   Antithrombotic therapy for improving maternal or infant health outcomes in women considered at risk of placental dysfunction
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, intrauterine fetal growth restriction and placental abruption are thought to be related to abnormalities in the development and function of the placenta. Treatment with heparin to prevent the ...
Date:   Apr 2010
Title:   Anticoagulant therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in pregnancy
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Pregnant women are more susceptible than non-pregnant women to forming blood clots in their veins (venous thrombosis). When these clots occur in the deep leg veins, the clot can break up and fragments (emboli) move to the lungs where they may block the ...
Date:   Mar 2010
Title:   Pregnancy and drugs
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Taking drugs or medications during pregnancy can be harmful. Possible effects include prenatal death (miscarriage), developmental delay, intellectual disability and birth defects. Some medications may be necessary but should only be taken under medical supervision. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and illicit drugs including cannabis and cocaine are all classified as drugs. Limit caffeine drinks and don't smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Date:   Jan 2010
Title:   Medical methods for mid-trimester termination of pregnancy
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   There are many medical methods for planned termination of pregnancy in the second trimester of pregnancy (abortion after three months). We did a search of the scientific literature to find out which is the best method. We identified 38 studies and came ...
Date:   Jan 2010
Title:   Thyrotropin-releasing hormone added to corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth for preventing neonatal respiratory disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) given with corticosteroids does not improve the benefit of steroids on the lungs of babies born too early, and may increase harm. Babies born very early are at risk of breathing difficulties (respiratory distress synd...
Date:   Nov 2009
Title:   Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Topical steroids are the most commonly used medicines for skin conditions. Pregnant women may need topical steroids to treat skin conditions but it is unclear if they are safe or harmful during pregnancy. This review shows that there are limited data on...
Date:   May 2009
Title:   Asthma in pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Good asthma control is especially important throughout your pregnancy because you are breathing for your baby as well as yourself. Well controlled asthma has no effect on pregnancy, labour or breastfeeding.
Date:   Nov 2011

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2