Training resources
Get to grips with how to answer questions patients may ask you about the safety of medicines in pregnancy.
The risks and principles of prescribing in pregnancy
Prescribing in pregnancy requires balancing maternal and fetal risks. This guidance outlines key risks and principles to ensure safe, informed decisions.
Conducting a medicines risk assessment in pregnancy
The questions asked should provide information on factors that are critical to the risk assessment for each individual pregnancy.
Information resources for advice about medicines in pregnancy
SPS and other resources can help pharmacy and other healthcare professionals provide advice on medicines in pregnancy.
Treatment resources
Both pre-existing and new conditions need to be managed carefully during pregnancy. Maintaining good maternal health supports good foetal health and development. Good medicines choices in pregnancy can also enable safe medicines use in breastfeeding (SPS page).
Condition specific advice
SPS provides advice on the management of some common conditions during pregnancy. Our article information resources for advice about medicines in pregnancy (SPS page) signposts to useful resources that cover the management of common conditions in pregnancy.
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis: treatment during pregnancy
Use non-pharmacological treatments for the initial management of hay fever during pregnancy. If insufficient, use topical treatments or oral antihistamines.
Haemorrhoids: treatment during pregnancy
Use non-pharmacological treatment for the management of haemorrhoids during pregnancy. If insufficient use a topical haemorrhoidal preparation.
Pain: treatment during pregnancy
A summary of pharmacological options commonly used to treat pain in primary care.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: treatment during pregnancy
Intramuscular hydroxocobalamin and oral cyanocobalamin are treatment options for the management of clinically relevant vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy.
Vitamin D deficiency: treatment during pregnancy
Use oral vitamin D therapy to manage vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. It is important to prescribe an appropriate formulation and dose.