Safety for You and Your Baby

Don't smoke during your pregnancy and limit how much time you spend in environments where there is secondhand smoke.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant is a leading cause of birth defects in a baby. In addition, the risk for miscarriage and stillbirth increases with alcohol consumption. Read on to learn more.

A baby born to a mother who drinks alcohol during pregnancy can have many problems. This is called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Almost every drug passes from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta to the fetus. Drugs that cause dependence and addiction in the mother also cause the fetus to become addicted.

All medicines you take affect the fetus, depending on the stage of development, the type and dosage of the medicine being taken, and your drug tolerance.

Abuse often begins with verbal behaviors, such as name-calling, threats, and hitting or throwing objects. It can become worse, including pushing, slapping, and holding against the victim's will.

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is when someone you're in a romantic relationship with tries to control you through fear and threats. Read on for detailed information.