A key area where the health interests of the unborn baby and mother may conflict is the use of medication in pregnancy. To-date, significant attention has been focused on the adverse effects of exposing the fetuses to various medications, but less on risks and benefits of continuing vs discontinuing medications in pregnancy.
As part of this project, we will:
- Map the medications (type, dose, duration) taken by pregnant women at the time of booking in the participating NHS Trusts using electronic medical records
- Prioritise pre-existing maternal conditions requiring detailed risk communication on the benefits of continuing the medication in pregnancy to maternal health vs risks to the offspring (surveys, stakeholder workshops)
- Collate the evidence on the magnitude of benefits and risks to the mother or baby from medication exposure in pregnancy (systematic reviews)
- Ascertain women’s concerns about medication use in pregnancy and how this influences their adherence to the medication (surveys, focus groups)
- Co-develop effective risk communication strategies and decision tools for pregnant women on medication at booking (focus groups, surveys)
