Doctors are advising pregnant women against self-medication, stating that it can cause malformation and hindrance to the normal growth of the baby.

Unprescribed medications could cause deformities in their unborn children.

A Physician at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Dr Tomi Salako, urged them to get proper prescription from their physicians before taking any drug.

"Pregnant women should avoid taking ‘teratogenics’ pills like acne medication, aspirin, diet pill, tetracycline and anti-fungal drugs because they can lead to malformation of the unborn child. If these pills are taken without prescription, they can have harmful effects on the unborn child and can also lead to death. Pregnant women can take multivitamins, to help boost their immune system. These pills can also enhance the growth and development of the foetus, because expectant mothers share everything with their foetus through the placenta.”

Also, a Gynaecologist, Dr Dipo Ayandele, said that pregnant women should not at any point try to self-medicate.

Ayandele said that self-medicating in pregnancy posed a serious health risk to the unborn baby, especially in the first trimester.

"Pregnant women should first report any happenings during pregnancy to her doctor and follow his or her advice on taking prescribed medications, to avoid the risk of complications,” he said.


"Self-medicating, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, can cause serious complications to the unborn baby. It can cause malformation and hindrance to the normal growth of the baby. Also, certain genital diseases are easily contracted and urethral issues are found to occur with self-medication,” he added.