Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy: Complete Guide
Learn which skincare and cosmetic ingredients are flagged by health authorities like the FDA and ACOG during pregnancy — retinoids, salicylic acid, phthalates, and more.
Read the full guide →Pregnancy Safety Blog
Educational guides to help you make informed decisions during pregnancy.
The SafeMama blog is a collection of evidence-based pregnancy safety guides written for expecting mothers who want to understand the "why" behind the recommendations they encounter. Every guide on this blog draws exclusively from published guidance issued by major health authorities — the FDA, ACOG, the WHO, the CDC, the UK NHS, and Australia's TGA.
We do not invent statistics, fabricate study counts, or rely on influencer opinions. If a claim appears in a SafeMama guide, you can click through to the source document and verify it for yourself. Our goal is not to replace your obstetrician, midwife, or pharmacist — it is to help you walk into those conversations with better questions and more context.
These guides are the companion content to the SafeMama app, which scans product barcodes and uses AI to cross-reference ingredient lists against the same authorities cited below. Every article includes a disclaimer: SafeMama is an educational tool, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Every pregnancy is unique, and your healthcare provider should always be your primary source of guidance.
Safe Skincare Routine During Pregnancy: Step-by-Step Guide
A practical morning and evening skincare routine using pregnancy-safe ingredients. Includes safe alternatives for retinol, chemical sunscreens, and more.
Read the full guide →Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy: Evidence-Based List
An evidence-based guide to food safety during pregnancy — high-mercury fish, raw meats, unpasteurized dairy, caffeine limits, and more. Based on FDA, WHO, and ACOG guidelines.
Read the full guide →How Much Caffeine Is Safe During Pregnancy?
ACOG, NHS and WHO recommend keeping caffeine intake under 200 mg per day during pregnancy. Here is exactly what that looks like across coffee, tea, matcha, cola and chocolate.
Read the full guide →Is Salicylic Acid Safe During Pregnancy?
Topical low-percentage salicylic acid is generally considered acceptable by ACOG. Here is what concentrations are fine, what to avoid, and pregnancy-safe acne alternatives.
Read the full guide →First Trimester Safety Guide (Weeks 1–13)
A first-trimester checklist covering supplements, foods, medications, skincare, environmental hazards, exercise and red-flag symptoms. Based on ACOG, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance.
Read the full guide →