Many women need to take medicine to manage health conditions, such as pain. But not all medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. CDC’s Treating for Two: Safer Medication Use in Pregnancy researchers reviewed previous studies to better understand what is currently known about opioids taken during pregnancy and birth defects.
Specifically, the review found:
- Use of opioids during pregnancy may be linked to various birth defects such as oral clefts, congenital heart defects, and clubfoot.
- However, many of the studies reviewed had issues with study methods and quality.
More research is needed to understand the connections between individual types of opioids and specific birth defects. Until more is known, women of childbearing age and their healthcare providers should discuss risks and benefits when considering opioid treatment.
You can read the article here.
For More Information:
Birth Defects: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/index.html
Medications and Pregnancy: https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/meds/index.html
Pregnancy and Opioid Pain Medications: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pregnancy_opioid_pain_factsheet-a.pdf
Safer, More Effective Pain Management: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/patients.html