Pregnancy
From the FDA Office of Women's Health
Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant? Having a baby can be a joyous time that comes with changes as you go through each stage of pregnancy. The FDA has lots of resources to help you make good choices about medicines, foods, and other products for you and your baby.
On this page:
- Before pregnancy
- During pregnancy
- Medicine and pregnancy
- Resources for new moms
- Breast pumps and breastfeeding
- Other tips for new moms
Before pregnancy
Thinking of becoming pregnant? Preconception care is important to give you and your baby a healthy start. Make a plan, discuss and keep up with your annual health exams with your health care provider.
- Food safety for moms to be
- Adding folic acid to corn masa flour may prevent birth defects
- How smoking affects reproductive health
- Weight, fertility and pregnancy (womenshealth.gov)
- Before you get pregnant (womenshealth.gov)
During pregnancy
Pregnancy can be an exciting but also challenging time for you and your family. For example, pregnancy makes it harder for your body to fight off illness caused by food. Some foods are not safe for you and your baby.
Regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy journey can help catch any concerns, reduce the risk of complications, and help protect the health of you and your baby.
Talk with your health care provider and check out the resources below.
- Food safety for pregnant women
- Advice about eating fish
- Learn about Listeria (Listeriosis)
- Ultrasound imaging - Information for patients including expectant mothers
- You're pregnant: Now what? (womenshealth.gov)
- Checklist of foods to avoid during pregnancy (foodsafety.gov)
- Hear Her Campaign (CDC)
- Gestational diabetes (CDC)
- Pregnancy & COVID 19 (CDC)
Medicine and pregnancy
Some women need to take medicines during pregnancy for health problems they had before pregnancy like diabetes or depression, while others may need to take medicine for health problems like high blood pressure that can start or get worse during pregnancy. Always talk with your health care provider, nurse, or pharmacist before taking any medicines, vitamins or herbs.
Use these resources to help you talk with your health care provider about the medicines or vaccines you take during your pregnancy.
- Medicine and pregnancy tips (En Español)
- Pregnancy exposure registries (for patients who take prescription medicines or vaccines during pregnancy)
- Information on new prescription drug labeling for consumers and health professionals
- Information on specific medicines
Resources for new moms
Congratulations, baby is here! Check out the resources below to keep you and your baby safe.
Breast pumps and breastfeeding
The FDA has general tips on how to safely use a breast pump and store breast milk. Talk with your health care provider for other breastfeeding tips.
- Types of breast pumps
- What to know when buying or using a breast pump
- Breast pump and breastfeeding resources
- Cleaning a breast pump
- Buying and renting a breast pump
- Knowledge & News on Women: National Breastfeeding Month
- Using breast milk from another woman
- Using codeine and tramadol products in breastfeeding women
Other helpful tips for new moms
There is a lot you need to know about the medicines and other products you use for your baby. FDA has free resources to help you talk with your health care provider about what is best for you and your baby.
Infants
Feeding
- Infant formula
- Handling infant formula safely: what you need to know
- Infant formula: safety do's and don'ts
- Food safety - once your baby arrives
Baby products
Medicines
- Do teething babies need medicine on their gums? No.
- Vaccines protect children from harmful infectious diseases
- Tips for parents about safe use of over-the-counter medicines
- Children's health - consumer updates from FDA
Mom's Health
Related links
- MedlinePlus - Links to other government resources for pregnant women (National Library of Medicine)
- Flu & pregnancy (CDC)
- Gestational diabetes (NIH)
- Diabetes and pregnancy (CDC)
- Medicine and pregnancy (CDC)