Having a baby fills your heart with joy and hope for the future. You trust your doctors to give you the right medicines to keep you and your baby healthy, strong and safe during pregnancy. But what happens when healthcare providers make mistakes with the medicine they give you?
One wrong prescription could change your baby’s life forever.
Effects of medication errors on unborn babies
Your baby faces significant health risks since their organs and systems are still developing. They can experience breathing difficulties, heart problems or nervous system complications right after birth. Several factors determine how seriously medications might harm your unborn baby:
- Type of drug and its ability to cross the placenta
- Amount of medicine in each dose
- How often you took the medicine
- Stage of pregnancy when exposed to the drug
- Baby’s unique response to the medication
In severe cases, the wrong drugs can cause organ damage or compromise your baby’s immune system—leading to long-term challenges and impairments.
Dangerous drugs for pregnant women
Drugs and other substances that may affect the congenital growth of your baby are known as “teratogens.” Some examples include:
- Accutane: A popular acne drug, this causes severe brain and heart defects in developing babies
- ACE inhibitors: Commonly used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure, these can lead to kidney damage and growth problems in fetuses
- Tetracyclines: A group of antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, these can damage your baby’s developing teeth and bones
Medication mistakes can stem from missing essential details in your medical history, failing to check drug interactions or misreading pregnancy safety guidelines. Sometimes, communication breaks down between different healthcare providers managing your care.
Taking action for your and your baby’s recovery
Medical teams must be careful when giving medicine to pregnant mothers. If your doctor or medical team gave or prescribed the wrong drug, you have the right to speak up and seek help—and justice.
When you hold healthcare providers responsible for their mistakes, you help protect other families, too. Your courage in coming forward may prevent similar errors.