Approximately 90% of pregnant women use medications while they are pregnant including both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Some medications can pose a threat to the pregnant woman and fetus with 10% of all birth defects directly linked to medications taken during pregnancy. Many medications have documented safety for use during pregnancy, but research is limited due to ethical concerns of exposing the fetus to potential risks. Much of the information gleaned about safety in pregnancy is collected from registries, case studies and reports, animal studies, and outcomes management of pregnant women. Common OTC categories of readily accessible medications include antipyretics, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nasal topicals, antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, antacids, antidiarrheal, and topical dermatological medications. We review the safety categories for medications related to pregnancy and provide an overview of OTC medications a pregnant woman may consider for management of common conditions.

No abstract

The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate of peer countries. Since 1935, the maternal mortality risk among Black women has remained three to four times higher than that of White women. Perinatal health care is not available in all areas, which limits the access for certain groups. Many women in the United States live in maternity care deserts with no access to obstetric providers, whereas others live in areas with very limited access. One way to bridge the gap between effective perinatal care and access to care is use of telehealth. Telehealth allows health care providers to communicate directly with patients that cannot physically be seen in a clinic or hospital. Telehealth is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as an alternate mode to deliver prenatal and postpartum services. The potential for telehealth services as part of perinatal care to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality by improving access to care is presented.

Screening recommendations for anemia during pregnancy, etiologies of inherited and noninherited forms of anemia, their impact on maternal–fetal outcomes, and the clinical management of pregnant patients presenting with these conditions are reviewed. Anemia during pregnancy can cause adverse perinatal outcomes including preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and increased maternal and fetal mortality. Physiologic (dilutional) anemia and iron deficiency anemia are the two most common noninherited forms of anemia, and some cases may be the result of an underlying comorbidity such as diabetes or lupus. Aplastic anemia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia are uncommon forms of noninherited anemias that also merit discussion. Inherited forms of anemia include sickle cell disease, alpha-thalassemia, and beta-thalassemia. Timely diagnosis and treatment of anemia during pregnancy, whether inherited or noninherited, is imperative to protect mother and baby from potential adverse outcomes associated with these conditions.