Pregnancy Registries: What They Are and Why They Matter for Medication Safety

When you’re pregnant and need to take a medication, you’re not just thinking about yourself—you’re thinking about your baby. That’s where pregnancy registries, voluntary tracking programs that collect real-world data on how medications affect pregnant women and their babies. These registries help fill the gaps left by clinical trials, which rarely include pregnant people. They’re not about stopping treatment—they’re about making smarter choices when you need it most.

These registries aren’t just for big pharma. Doctors, researchers, and public health agencies use them to spot patterns. For example, if a certain antibiotic like nitrofurantoin, a common UTI treatment often used in early pregnancy shows up in dozens of registry reports with no linked birth defects, that’s a green light. On the flip side, if a drug like St. John’s Wort, a herbal supplement sometimes used for mood during pregnancy keeps showing up alongside treatment failures or complications, it triggers warnings. Pregnancy registries turn guesswork into evidence.

They also help when you’re on long-term meds—like diabetes drugs such as canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor that helps control blood sugar, or antipsychotics like Abilify, used for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. You might wonder: is this safe? Is there data? Registries answer that. They track outcomes: birth weight, development milestones, preterm rates, even long-term child health. And they’re built on real people—mothers who choose to share their stories so others don’t have to guess.

It’s not about fear. It’s about clarity. If you’re pregnant and taking any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal product, knowing whether it’s been tracked matters. Some drugs have decades of registry data behind them. Others? Not so much. That’s why your doctor might ask if you’re enrolled—or why you might want to look into it yourself.

Below, you’ll find real-world insights from people who’ve navigated pregnancy while managing conditions like diabetes, depression, infections, and more. These aren’t abstract studies. They’re stories backed by data, filtered through the lens of actual care. Whether you’re planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or supporting someone who is, this collection gives you the facts you need to talk with your provider—and make confident decisions.