Medication use in the perinatal period

When you’re pregnant or caring for a new baby, you may need to take medications to treat a range of conditions, from your physical to mental health.

Medication for nausea and gestational diabetes is common during pregnancy. Many new mums take medication during birth recovery and to support lactation if they’re breastfeeding.

Sometimes, you may need to take medication for your mental health as well. One of your health professionals (eg your doctor, obstetrician, psychologist or psychiatrist) may have recommended that you consider taking medication to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, or another mental health concern. It’s natural to have questions.

You may be wondering about side effects from medication, either for yourself or your baby. This is a common concern during pregnancy and for parents who are breastfeeding.

Maybe you’ve never taken medication for your mental health before, or not had a positive experience previously. There may also be stigma (negative associations) with medications for mental health in your social circle or culture.

Often it’s seen as perfectly acceptable to take medications for a physical condition, like a headache or diabetes, but there are still some taboos around treating mental health with medication. This needs to change – taking care of your mental health is just as important as treating any physical health conditions.

Untreated mental health can be a risk to you and your baby. It’s incredibly hard to manage parenting when you’re also trying to cope with changes to your mental health that are affecting your daily function.

There are a range of treatment options available for mental health, including counselling and medication. We know from decades of research that there are many medications used to treat mental health during pregnancy and after having a baby that are safe to take. Certain medications have a low risk profile in terms of transmission (either to your unborn baby, or via breastmilk transfer).

We do not provide medication advice on the PANDA Helpline – but we do provide a space for you to talk through your options, thoughts, and feelings about taking medication.

We can also help you link to services that provide advice about medication use during pregnancy and after your baby is born. We encourage you to talk to your doctor for information and advice about medication. Some specialist medication advice services are also listed at the bottom of this page.

Being informed about medications is essential – it’s important you feel confident and comfortable about any medication you are taking.

Medication is a broad term that encompasses a whole range of substances, not just medicine that you swallow.

Medication can take the form of:

• Tablets and capsules, either available over the counter or by prescription.
• Liquid medication, either ingested or administered via injection (eg, an iron infusion at your doctor, or medication to induce labour)
• Inhalants, like nasal sprays or asthma medication.
• Ointments or patches you apply to your skin.
• Suppositories you insert in your body.
• Vitamins and supplements.
• Herbal preparations, including tinctures and teas.

Your doctor or local pharmacist can provide you with information about medication use for yourself and your baby. You can also request a referral from your doctor for a home medicines review. This is a free service.

Your doctor will refer you to a local accredited pharmacist to discuss your use of any prescription medicines, over the counter medication, and vitamins and supplements.

The pharmacist will:

• Answer any questions you have
• Check that you are using medicines correctly (eg, dosage and time of day, storage)
• May recommend changes to your medication
• Provide a report to your GP

You doctor will then create a personalised Medication Management Plan for you. You’ll receive a copy of your plan to share with any health professionals who are caring for you. You can request a free home medicines review every 12 months.