many women do not know that over-the-counter medications can be dangerous. in fact many prescription and over-the-counter medications harm the fetus very early in pregnancy at a time that the mother does not even know she is pregnant. even aspirin use by the mother can cause defects in the fetus. for this reason as soon as pregnancy is being contemplated women should avoid all over-the-counter and prescription medications until they are reviewed with the doctor. acne medications such as isotretinoin (accutane) can cause birth defects and should be discontinued before conception. since many medications and substances can affect fetal growth and development pregnancy planning is important so that potentially harmful substances can be stopped before conceiving. unplanned pregnancy during oral contraceptive use is not felt to pose a significant danger to the fetus although deliberate use of oral contraceptives during pregnancy is not advisable. women who become pregnant during oral contraceptive use have the same risk of birth defects in their newborns as the general population of women in the range of 2%-3%.
what are examples of commonly used medications that are dangerous in pregnancy?