context: Although some medications are considered safe to take during pregnancy, the effects of other medications on your unborn baby are unknown. According to the CDC, about two-thirds of women in the U. S. take one or more prescription medications during pregnancy. Yet most medications have not been adequately studied for their safety during pregnancy. One report notes that more that 90% of the medications approved by the FDA from 1980 to 2000 had insufficient data to determine safety in pregnancy. Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to medications you take while you are pregnant, especially during the first trimester, which is a crucial time of development for your baby. An estimated 50% of U. S. pregnancies are unplanned. Therefore, all women of childbearing age should discuss the risks of any medications you take with your doctor, including over-the-counter medications. If you were taking prescription medications before you became pregnant, be sure to ask your doctor about the safety of continuing these medications as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Your doctor will weigh the benefit to you and the risk to your baby when making his or her recommendations. With some medications, the risk of not taking them may be more serious than the risk associated with taking them. If you are prescribed any new medication, please inform your doctor that you are pregnant. Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of the newly prescribed medication with your doctor before taking the medication. Prenatal vitamins, now available without a prescription, are safe to take during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about the safety of taking other vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements during pregnancy. Most herbal preparations and supplements have not been proven to be safe during pregnancy. Generally, you should not take any over-the-counter medication unless it is necessary. The following over-the-counter ( OTC) medications and home remedies have no known harmful effects during pregnancy when taken according to the package directions. If you want to know about the safety of any other medications not listed here, ask your doctor. Condi ­tion Safe OTC Medications to Take During Pregnancy* Allergy Antihistamines including: Chlorpheniramine ( Chlor- Trimeton, Efidac, Teldrin) Diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) Loratadine ( Alavert, Claritin, Loradamed, Tavist ND Allergy) Nasal spray oxymetazoline ( Afrin, Neo- Synephrine) ( Check with your doctor first and limit use to a few days.) Steroid nasal spray ( Rhinocort) ( Check with your doctor first, but over the counter sprays are generally safe.) Cold and Flu Robitussin (check which ones, some should not be used in 1st trimester), Trind- DM, Vicks Cough Syrup Saline nasal drops or spray Actifed, Dristan, Neosynephrine*, Sudafed ( Check with your doctor first. Do not use in first trimester.) Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Tylenol Cold Warm salt/water gargle * Do not take " SA" (sustained action) forms or " Multi- Symptom" forms of these drugs. Consti ­pa ­tion Citrucil Colace Fiberall/ Fibercon Metamucil Milk of Magnesia Senekot Diarr ­hea For 24 hours, only after 12 weeks of pregnancy: Imodium Kaopectate Parepectolin First Aid Oint ­ment Bacitracin J & J Neosporin Head ­ache Tylenol (acetaminophen) Heart ­burn Gaviscon Maalox Mylanta Riopan Titralac TUMs Hem ­or ­rhoids Anusol Preparation H Tucks Witch hazel Nausea and Vomit ­ing Emetrex Emetrol (if not diabetic) Sea bands Vitamin B6 (100 mg tablet) Rashes Benadryl cream Caladryl lotion or cream Hydrocortisone cream or ointment Oatmeal bath ( Aveeno) Yeast Infec ­tion Monistat or Terazol Do not insert applicator too far * Please Note: No drug can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy. Many pregnant women believe "natural" products can be safely used to relieve nausea, backache, and other annoying symptoms of pregnancy, but many of these so-called natural products have not been tested for their safety and effectiveness in non-pregnant women, much less in pregnant women. Therefore, it is very important to check with your doctor before taking any alternative therapies. He or she will not recommend a product or therapy until it is shown to be safe and effective. There are some alternative therapies that have been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant women to take to relieve some of the uncomfortable side effects of pregnancy. Nausea in early pregnancy: acupuncture, acupressure, ginger root (250 milligram capsules 4 times a day), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 25 milligram two or three times a day) work well. Backache: chiropractic manipulation and physical therapy should be considered. Turning a breech baby: exercise, hypnosis, and traditional Chinese treatment (burning incense-like substance on the fifth toe) have proven beneficial. Pain relief in labor: epidurals are most effective, but injections of sterile water near a woman's tailbone works surprisingly well, as do immersion in a warm bath, and a high tech nerve stimulator called TENS unit. Relaxation techniques, patterned breathing, emotional support, and self-hypnosis are already widely used alternative therapies in labor. The following substances have the potential to harm a developing baby when used in a concentrated formulation (not as a spice in cooking). Some are thought to cause birth defects, and potentially encourage early labor. Avoid these oral supplements: Arbor vitae, Beth root, Black cohosh, Blue cohosh, Cascara, Chaste tree berry, Chinese angelica ( Dong Quai), Cinchona, Cotton root bark, Feverfew, Ginseng, Golden seal, Juniper, Kava kava, Licorice, Meadow saffron, Pennyroyal, Poke root, Rue, Sage, St. John's wort, Senna, Tansy, White peony, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow dock, vitamin A (large doses can cause birth defects). Avoid these aromatherapy essential oils: calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram, and thyme. If you have any doubt regarding the safety of a medication, both traditional and alternative, contact your doctor before taking it.