Updated Dec. 2022

Pregnancy can be an overwhelming time and it can seem like there are many "rules" for what to do and not do. At UCSF, we want to help you to attain your goal of a healthy pregnancy. For these reasons, we encourage you to eat well, make healthy choices and avoid ingesting anything that might harm your health or that of your child. What you eat, drink or use crosses the placenta to the fetus in various amounts. That's why we encourage you to quit smoking, avoid alcohol and other drugs, and be aware that any medications you take could affect your baby. Your health care provider can give you more information on these issues. At UCSF, we believe that substance use should be treated like any other medical condition, and we strive to deliver nonjudgmental care to all our patients.