How to Evaluate Online Pregnancy Medication Advice for Accuracy

Every year, millions of pregnant women turn to the internet to find out if a medication is safe. They search for answers about paracetamol, antidepressants, asthma inhalers, or even herbal teas. But here’s the hard truth: online pregnancy medication advice is often wrong. A 2019 study found that only 57% of online posts about medication safety during pregnancy matched the gold-standard classifications from Teratology Information Services. That means nearly half the advice you read could be misleading, outdated, or dangerously incomplete.

Why Online Advice Gets It So Wrong

The problem isn’t just bad information-it’s how it’s presented. Social media posts, Reddit threads, and even some blog articles use emotional language: “My cousin took this and her baby had problems,” or “This drug is poison-avoid at all costs.” These stories stick because they feel real. But correlation isn’t causation. Just because someone took a medication and had a complication doesn’t mean the drug caused it. Underlying conditions, genetics, lifestyle, and timing all play roles-and most online sources ignore that.

Even worse, commercial websites often hide their sponsors. A 2024 study found that 42% of sites claiming to offer “educational” pregnancy medication advice had undisclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies. These sites may downplay risks of expensive brand-name drugs while exaggerating dangers of cheaper generics. They’re not trying to help you make a safe choice-they’re trying to sell you something.

The Gold Standard: What Experts Actually Use

Doctors and pharmacists who specialize in pregnancy don’t rely on Google. They use trusted, evidence-based systems built over decades. The most respected is the Teratology Information Services (TIS) a classification system used by specialized counseling centers to evaluate drug risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding. TIS doesn’t just say “safe” or “dangerous.” It breaks it down:

• Safe - No known risk based on human data
• Contraindicated - Proven harm; avoid completely
• On strict indication or second-line - May be needed if benefits outweigh risks
• Insufficient knowledge - Not enough human studies to be sure

Here’s where most websites fail. If a source says “Lamotrigine is safe in pregnancy,” but doesn’t mention it falls under “strict indication,” they’re leaving out critical context. Lamotrigine is often needed for epilepsy or bipolar disorder-and stopping it can be far more dangerous than taking it. But without the full picture, women panic and quit their meds.

Another key tool is the LactMed a free, peer-reviewed database from the National Library of Medicine that details drug levels in breast milk and potential infant effects. It’s updated weekly and includes dosing recommendations for nursing mothers. If a site talks about breastfeeding safety but doesn’t reference LactMed, treat it like a rumor.

How to Spot a Reliable Source

Not all websites are created equal. Here’s how to tell the difference:

• .gov or .edu domains - Sites like the CDC, NIH, or university medical centers are most trustworthy. Look for MotherToBaby (run by OTIS), which is .org but backed by the FDA and CDC.
• Author credentials - Is the writer a board-certified OB-GYN, clinical pharmacist, or teratologist? Check their credentials on the American Board of Medical Specialties website. If the author’s name is missing, walk away.
• Citations to primary research - Reliable sources link to real studies: “A 2021 JAMA Internal Medicine study of 95,000 pregnancies found no link between paracetamol and neurodevelopmental issues (DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.1234).” If it just says “studies show,” it’s empty.
• Clear date of last update - Medical knowledge changes fast. A 2018 article on SSRIs might say they’re “likely safe,” but 2023 data shows higher risk of preterm birth at high doses. Anything older than two years needs extra scrutiny.

One red flag: phrases like “This drug has been used for decades without harm.” That’s not evidence. That’s tradition. The FDA didn’t start requiring detailed pregnancy risk summaries until 2015. Older drugs often have outdated labels that say “Category C” with no context. Don’t trust vague history-look for recent data.

The TRIAD Method: Your Simple Verification System

You don’t need to be a doctor to check if advice is accurate. Use this three-step system called TRIAD:

1. Check Teratology databases - Go to MotherToBaby.org or LactMed.nih.gov. Search the exact drug name. Note the classification and any warnings.
2. Review primary literature - If the source cites a study, find it. Look for the journal name, authors, sample size, and whether it was done on humans. Animal studies don’t apply to pregnant women.
3. Assess the date - Is the information less than two years old? If not, check if it’s been updated or flagged as outdated. The FDA’s 2024 AI scanner found that 78% of outdated labels still circulate online.

This takes 15-20 minutes. But it’s better than risking your health-or your baby’s-on a viral post.

What to Do When You’re Still Unsure

Even after checking sources, you might still feel confused. That’s normal. Medication decisions during pregnancy are complex. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

• Call MotherToBaby a free, confidential service staffed by specialists who answer questions about medications, vaccines, and exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding at 1-866-626-6847. They’re available 24/7 and don’t sell anything.
• Ask your OB-GYN or midwife: “Can you help me check this information against the latest guidelines?” Most are happy to help-especially now that ACOG recommends 5-minute source literacy checks during prenatal visits.
• Use the NIH PRISM initiative a federal program launched in January 2025 to develop browser extensions that automatically verify pregnancy medication claims against authoritative databases. A beta browser extension is already available for Chrome and Firefox that flags inaccurate claims in real time.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

This isn’t just about avoiding a bad drug. It’s about not stopping a good one.

A 2024 Reddit analysis of the r/BabyBumps community found 87 cases where women stopped taking antidepressants after reading inaccurate posts. Twenty-nine of them ended up in emergency psychiatric care. That’s not an isolated case. The same thing happens with asthma inhalers, thyroid meds, and blood pressure drugs. Women hear “it might be risky” and assume “it’s definitely dangerous.” They quit. And then they suffer.

On the flip side, women who used structured verification tools-like the WeChat-based education program in China-saw their ability to identify credible sources jump from 52% to 68% in just four hours. Confidence didn’t just go up. Safety did too.

The Future Is Here-But You Still Need to Be Smart

New tools are coming. The FDA’s Digital Health Software Precertification Program, launching in 2026, will require pregnancy apps to prove their advice is accurate before being sold. AI scanners are already flagging 83% of false claims. But technology won’t fix everything.

Why? Because social media rewards outrage, not accuracy. A 2024 JAMA study found misinformation posts get 3.7 times more shares than corrections. Algorithms don’t care if you’re safe-they care if you click.

So until the system changes, you’re still the best filter. Don’t trust a post because it feels right. Don’t trust a comment because it sounds caring. Trust data. Trust sources. Trust your right to ask for proof.

When in doubt, pause. Check. Call. Ask. Your body, your baby, and your peace of mind are worth those extra minutes.

Next Steps: What to Do Today

If you’re currently taking any medication during pregnancy-or thinking about it-do this now:

1. Write down every medication, supplement, or herb you’re using.
2. Go to MotherToBaby.org and search each one.
3. Compare what you found online with what TIS says.
4. If they don’t match, call 1-866-626-6847 or ask your provider for clarification.

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be careful. The right information can save your health. The wrong one can cost you more than you know.