Brief Answer: Yes. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXX and welcome, Pantoprazole is a category B drug. Meaning that animal studies have not shown any adverse effects during pregnancy but human studies are not there. This is typical of many drugs as no one will volunteer to get drugs tested on their unborn babies and also it is unethical. So pantoprazole as such does not have any documented adverse effects on the baby and I have used it many times when there was no other option to control the acidity. Having said this there is a little more advice I have for you before you go for pantoprazole. Pregnancy causes a relaxation of many sphincters or valves in our body that are protective. There is a valve at the end of our food pipe that guards the food from coming back into the food pipe once it goes into our stomach as stomach has acids. In pregnancy this valve is relaxed and so food comes out and there is acidity. It is better to start a few lifestyle measures in addition to drugs. The first drug of choice is any thing that is based on aluminium and magnesium salts like gelusil syrup. It is very safe and acts locally. Lifestyle measures include avoiding food rich in spices, limiting meat content, no fried or sour food as they all increase acidity. Use of cold milk is also very beneficial in controlling acidity. Other measures are not to lie down immediately after meals to decrease the stomach contents from coming into the food pipe and eating small and frequent meals. So if the acidity is severe, she may use pantoprazole 20 mg and also ask her to follow the other measures if possible as it is not advisable to use the drug repeatedly. Also I find that she is not using any drugs. Kindly ask her to take folic acid tablets one tablet daily to prevent brain defects in the baby. Hope this provided an answer to your problem. Thanks for the query and I am always here to help for any further queries. Have a good day. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist

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