Pregnancy leads to a range of skin changes among women. Some women experience no skin changes while others can experience severe acne, discoloration, or pigmentation. Acne is a common concern among pregnant women. Various treatments are available, but the safety of these modalities during pregnancy should be a concern. Current evidence for the safety of acne treatment is limited. A generalized overview of the various treatments used for acne and their safety in pregnancy is presented here. A brief overview of other skincare products commonly used during pregnancy and their safety concerns is also mentioned.

Recently, the InfantRisk Center was asked to comment on the use of a new, extended-release bupivicaine product called Exparel. This drug is applied to surgical wounds and provides local anasthesia over then next 3-4 days. Some doctors are beginning to use it with C-sections and have some concerns about its safety profile in breastfeeding mothers.

Tobacco use during pregnancy is the most important modifiable risk factor associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Research has shown that smoking during pregnancy causes many health problems for both mothers and babies, such as infertility, placental rupture, abnormal placental implantation, preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) or early rupture of the amniotic sac membrane, premature birth, stillbirth, low-birth-weight infant, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

For most women, pregnancy is generally considered a period of emotional well-being for the woman and her family. However, many women suffer from an increased vulnerability to psychiatric conditions during pregnancy and after delivery. It is important to evaluate mothers for psychiatric disorders such as antenatal depression, postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis before and after delivery, because they are common and may be undiagnosed or hidden from the physician.