Many pregnant women take drugs harmful to baby-Reuters.

Pregnant women, please avoid drugs, at least during pregnancy.
Story:
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – With the help of their doctors, women planning to become pregnant should take an inventory of the medications they take, researchers from Canada advise.

In a study, they found that many pregnant women still take medications long known to cause birth defects.

Some medications with known fetal risk, such as drugs that control epilepsy, are essential during pregnancy, Dr. Anick Berard, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, noted in an email correspondence to Reuters Health.

Other medications, such as those that treat severe acne, anxiety and psychiatric drugs, antibiotics, and many drugs prescribed for heart disease and medical conditions, “can and should be avoided,” according to Berard.

Women should understand the side effects of any drug they are taking — especially drugs treating a chronic condition — and plan pregnancies to avoid or minimize risks such drugs pose to babies, Berard added.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5AQ3IS20091127?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100