According to the researchers at the University of Montreal in Quebec, women who are planning their pregnancy should keep track of the medications they take, and seek the advice of their doctors to understand the side-effects of the drugs they are taking.

The study by the Canadian researchers found that many pregnant women take medications that can result in birth defects. As such women should be fully aware of adverse effects of the drugs they take, particularly those for treating chronic conditions, so that the potential risks to babies can be minimized.

For their study, the researchers, led by University of Montreal’s Dr Anick Berard, analyzed the prescriptions filled by 109,344 pregnant women during 1998 to 2002.

They found that 56 percent of had filled at least one medication prescription; and nearly 6.3 percent of them had mentioned at least one medication that can cause fetal risk. Birth defects were seen in 8.2 percent of 2,842 infants exposed to risky medications during gestation.

In an email correspondence to Reuters Health, Berard specified that while some medications with established fetal risk, like the drugs that help control epilepsy, are necessary during pregnancy; some others “can and should be avoided” during pregnancy.

The drugs to be avoided include those that treat severe acne and anxiety; psychiatric drugs and antibiotics; as well as drugs prescribed for heart disease and medical conditions.