Pregnancy can be an exciting yet confusing time due to all the precautions that must be taken by the mother. Taking birth control while pregnant can be a source of alarm for expectant mothers.

When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she is presented with a seemingly endless list of foods and beverages she should avoid as well as medications and other various items and activities. Since many women do not find out that they are pregnant until they are at least a few weeks along, many worry about the consequences of ingesting or being around such items during the time span between the time she conceived and the moment the pregnancy was discovered. Birth control pills are clearly labeled advising women not to take the pills while pregnant. Since a few weeks tend to pass before the pregnancy is detected, many expectant mothers become concerned about taking birth control while pregnant.

When birth control is taken during the very early weeks of pregnancy, the chances are good that the baby will be fine. It is important, however, to stop taking the medicine as soon as the pregnancy is detected. Not only is this essential in ensuring your best chances for having a healthy baby, but there is really no reason to continue taking it during pregnancy anyway. During pregnancy, it is not possible to become pregnant again until after the baby is born, so there is absolutely no benefit to taking birth control. It is also a good idea to let your doctor know immediately if you have been taking birth control at any time since you became pregnant. Doing so will ensure that the doctor can carefully monitor the baby throughout pregnancy and detect any potential birth defects.

Although when it is taken in small amount birth control typically does not cause any birth defects, it still should not be taken during pregnancy. This is especially true during the later stages. Doing so can cause various birth defects, and, in some cases, birth control can cause a pregnant mother to miscarry. The most common birth defects that occur as a result of birth control usage during pregnancy include defects in the genitals and urinary tract. While such problems are rare when usage is discontinued immediately, they are still possible. This is why it is important to let your doctor know so that your baby can be tested for such problems.