How to Evaluate Online Pregnancy Medication Advice for Accuracy

Every year, millions of pregnant women turn to the internet for answers about what medications are safe to take. But here’s the hard truth: online pregnancy medication advice is often wrong. A 2019 study of over 1,400 online posts found that only 57% matched the official safety classifications from Teratology Information Services. That means more than 4 in 10 pieces of advice you read online could be putting you or your baby at risk. And it’s not just random forums-some of the most trusted-looking websites, even those run by drug companies, give outdated or misleading info.

Why Online Advice Is So Often Wrong

Pregnant women are searching for answers because they’re scared. They hear stories about birth defects, worry about medications crossing the placenta, and feel like their doctor doesn’t have enough time to explain everything. So they go online. But the internet doesn’t care if you’re scared. It cares about clicks.

Most of the misinformation comes from social media, blogs, and commercial websites trying to sell supplements or push certain brands. A 2022 study showed that 93% of posts about medications labeled as "strict indication or second-line"-meaning they’re only used when absolutely necessary-were completely misclassified. People saw a drug like lamotrigine for epilepsy and thought, "Oh, it’s dangerous," so they stopped taking it. That’s not just risky-it’s life-threatening.

Even worse, many sites use fake credibility. They say things like, "Studies show," but never link to the actual study. Or they cite animal research as proof it’s unsafe in humans. One woman stopped her antidepressant after reading a post claiming paracetamol caused autism. The truth? A 2021 study of 95,000 pregnancies found no link. But that study didn’t go viral. The fear-mongering post did.

The Gold Standard: Teratology Information Services (TIS)

If you want to know whether a medication is safe in pregnancy, you need to check the TIS system. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t have ads. It’s run by experts at universities and hospitals, and it’s the only system that’s been tested and validated across thousands of real pregnancies.

TIS classifies drugs into four categories:

• Safe: No evidence of harm in human studies.
• Contraindicated: Proven harm-avoid completely.
• On strict indication or second-line: Use only if benefits clearly outweigh risks.
• Insufficient knowledge: Not enough data yet-use with caution.

Here’s the kicker: 76% of people misjudge drugs in the "insufficient knowledge" category. They assume "no data" means "dangerous." But that’s not true. It just means we don’t know yet. That’s why you need to check the source, not just the conclusion.

How to Spot Real Evidence

Real medical advice doesn’t say "this is safe." It says, "Based on a 2022 cohort study of 12,000 women, there was no increased risk of heart defects with this medication." It names the journal, the authors, the sample size, and the limitations.

Here’s what to look for:

• Is there a DOI number? (That’s the unique identifier for scientific papers.)
• Is the study published in a peer-reviewed journal like Reproductive Toxicology or JAMA Internal Medicine?
• Does the article mention how many women were studied? (Small studies under 500 people aren’t reliable for pregnancy safety.)
• Does it say if the study controlled for other factors? (For example, if a woman has severe morning sickness, is it the medicine or the condition causing the problem?)

If you see a post that says, "I took this and my baby was fine," that’s an anecdote-not science. One person’s experience doesn’t prove safety for everyone.

The Three Trusted Sources You Need to Use

You don’t need to read 50 websites. Just use these three, and cross-check everything:

1. LactMed (from the National Library of Medicine): Updated weekly. Covers drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Free. No ads. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501913/
2. MotherToBaby (run by OTIS): Offers free, confidential consultations by phone or chat. Their website has evidence-based fact sheets. Accuracy rate: 92%. https://mothertobaby.org/
3. ACOG Practice Bulletins: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists updates these every few years. Their 2020 bulletin on medication use in pregnancy is the clinical gold standard.

Don’t trust a website unless it cites one of these sources. If it doesn’t, walk away.

Watch Out for These Red Flags

Here’s what to avoid:

• "Natural" means safe: Herbal supplements like black cohosh, dong quai, or chamomile aren’t regulated for pregnancy. Only 0.3% of herbal products are tested for safety in pregnant women. The FDA doesn’t approve them before they hit the shelf.
• "The doctor told me": Even doctors can be misinformed. A 2024 study found that 58% of pregnant women received inconsistent or incomplete advice from their OB-GYNs. Always verify what your doctor says with a trusted source.
• Old information: Drug labels haven’t been updated since 2001 in many cases. The FDA changed its labeling rules in 2015 to include detailed risk summaries. If a site still uses the old A, B, C, D, X categories, it’s outdated.
• Commercial bias: 42% of "educational" sites are secretly funded by pharmaceutical companies. Look for disclosures. If you don’t see them, assume it’s a sales page.

Your 5-Step Verification Protocol

You don’t need to be a doctor to check if advice is accurate. Here’s a simple, time-tested method:

1. Check the source: Is it .gov, .edu, or MotherToBaby? If it’s a .com with a glossy design and testimonials, be skeptical.
2. Verify the author: Look for credentials. Are they a board-certified OB-GYN, clinical pharmacist, or teratologist? Check their license on the American Board of Medical Specialties website.
3. Find the evidence: Does it cite a specific study? Search the study title in Google Scholar. If you can’t find it, the claim is likely made up.
4. Check the date: If the info is older than 2 years, treat it as outdated. New studies come out every month.
5. Compare with the big three: Cross-check with LactMed, MotherToBaby, and ACOG. If they all agree, you’re safe. If they disagree, talk to your provider.

This takes 15-20 minutes. But it’s better than risking your health-or your baby’s-because you trusted a random Reddit post.

What to Do If You’ve Already Stopped a Medication

If you’ve stopped a prescription because of something you read online-don’t panic. But do this right away:

• Call MotherToBaby at 1-866-626-6847. They’re available 24/7.
• Don’t restart the medication on your own. Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist who knows your history.
• Report the misleading post to the platform. Many social media sites now have reporting tools for false health claims.

In 2024, a Reddit thread documented 87 cases where women stopped antidepressants after misinformation. Twenty-nine needed emergency care. That’s preventable.

The Future Is Here-And It’s Helping

There’s good news: tools are finally catching up. In September 2024, the FDA launched a pilot AI tool that scans online content and flags inaccurate pregnancy medication claims with 83% accuracy. In 2025, the NIH launched a $4.7 million project to build browser extensions that automatically check medication advice against MotherToBaby’s database.

By 2026, the FDA’s new Digital Health Software Precertification Program will require apps and websites giving medical advice to prove their accuracy before they can be marketed. That’s a game-changer.

But until then, you’re still the best defense. No algorithm can replace your critical thinking. Don’t believe everything you see. Don’t trust everything that looks professional. Ask: Where’s the evidence? Who wrote this? When was this updated?

Pregnancy is already stressful. You don’t need to add the stress of bad advice. Use the right tools. Stick to the trusted sources. And when in doubt-call a specialist. You’re not alone.

Next Steps

If you’re currently taking medication and unsure about its safety:

• Bookmark MotherToBaby.org and LactMed.
• Save the number: 1-866-626-6847. Call them anytime.
• Ask your provider: "Can you show me the evidence behind this recommendation?"
• Turn off notifications from pregnancy apps that push unverified advice.

You don’t need to be an expert to protect yourself. You just need to know where to look-and what to ignore.