Ibuprofen should not be taken in pregnancy. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal antipyretic and analgesic drug, and during pregnancy, when the fetus is in a critical period of growth and development, there are no extensive case reports or rigorously controlled studies of human fetuses using the drug. Ibuprofen can pass through the placenta and is found in the meconium. It has been reported to have a constricting effect on fetal ductus arteriosus, and there is epidemiologic evidence of an association between ibuprofen and ventral clefts, which in rats is associated with an increased prevalence of abdominal wall defects and ventricular septal defects. If a pregnant woman has a physical abnormality and has a need for medication, it is recommended that the drug be used under the guidance of a medical professional to avoid blind use of the drug leading to adverse consequences.