Medicine safety information for mothers – Teratological information service
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We provide information on medications and other external factors that have an adverse impact on fertility, pregnancy and fetal development. We also advise you on all medication issues during breastfeeding. You can contact us when you are only just planning the pregnancy.
Teratological information service chat (opens in new window, links to another website)
In our chat service, we can provide generalized answers concerning the suitability of particular medications for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Our chat service is open on Mon from 13:00 to 15:00.
Leave us a request for contact online (opens in new window, links to another website)
When the Teratology Information Service is closed, you can leave us a request for contact online. We will call you during office hours within the next three (3) working days.
We make no comment on how the mother, the pregnancy, or the child are cared for, and we do not prescribe medications. When the service is not open, please contact your local maternity clinic. If you want to talk about exposure and risks at work, please contact your occupational health care service in the first instance.
We can also be contacted by health care professionals, pharmacies, the authorities, and the media. Health care professionals may also contact us with patient-related queries by e-mail at: konsultaatiot.teratologinen@hus.fi. We do not respond to questions sent by the general public by e-mail.
If you cannot find an answer to your question here, please contact us either by phone or via the chat.
News: Pollen allergy.
Pollen allergy is common but fortunately it is safe to treat allergy symptoms even during pregnancy. The primary choice for local symptoms is a topically administered medicine available in pharmacies over the counter. In oral antihistamines, loratadine or desloratadine are the primary choice, as well as fexofenadine. Cetirizine and levocetirizine are secondary options. Products that are safe to take during pregnancy are also safe to use when you are breastfeeding. Further information on this topic (Allergy and asthma)
News: The coronavirus vaccine and pregnancy
The coronavirus vaccine uses a new vaccine technology not yet tested in pregnant women. Other vaccines currently in use are generally considered safe during pregnancy if they do not contain live pathogens. Read more.
Hoping to get pregnant – important to take into account already when planning pregnancy (opens in new window, links to another website)
Many exposures can adversely affect fertility. The differentiation of the fetal organs begins as soon as you miss your menstrual period, and the weeks during the first trimester of pregnancy are a vulnerable time for fetal malformations. Therefore, already when planning...
Pregnancy and folic acid (opens in new window, links to another website)
Adequate intake of folate (dietary form), a vitamin of the B complex, and folic acid (a form in vitamin supplements) is important for the normal development of the fetus. In several population-based studies, the adequate intake of folic acid has been shown to reduce the...
