Principles of drug use and management in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

The antenatal and postnatal care of women is becoming increasingly complex, especiallyduring the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased use of medications during pregnancymakes it a challenging area for healthcare professionals. The role of the obstetric clinicalpharmacist has evolved from supply and prescription screening to that of a moreadvanced practitioner. The pharmacist is now required to be actively involved in patientcare by collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary team and adopting an evidence-based approach. The specialised pharmacist also participates in guideline development,research and development, service improvement in the multidisciplinary team setting andcritical evaluations of unlicensed drugs use. With these emerging clinical leadership roles,obstetric clinical pharmacy has become a rewarding and exciting career for pharmacistswho have a special interest in this field and who enjoy working with a dedicated team ofdoctors, midwives, nurses and other healthcare staff.