Pre-existing medical conditions

Always check with your pharmacist, midwife or doctor about medicines and therapies in pregnancy, even if you have taken them for a long time on prescription or think they are harmless 

A medicine or therapy may have different effects in your body if you're pregnant

As a result, familiar medicines and therapies may not always be safe for you or your developing baby

Always be on the safe side and ask for advice

  • If you are managing a pre-existing medical condition such as epilepsy or type 1 or type 2 diabetes, talk to your consultant as soon as you can – ideally when you’re planning a pregnancy. If this isn’t possible, speak to him or her as soon as you know you’re pregnant
  • If you take a prescription medicine, check with the pharmacist or doctor who prescribes your medication if it’s okay to take it while pregnant. And check with the pharmacist or midwife about over-the-counter medications (the ones you can buy without a prescription)
More information

Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) has information about specific medicines, but please don’t make decisions about starting, stopping or changing medicines till you’ve talked to a health professional