Expert: Brigid Kowalczyk - 6/28/2006

Question
I was really just wondering... if a person is taking birth control and they somehow become pregnant, will continuing on the pill ultimately kill the baby? I'm extremely worried that if I do become pregnant but I don't know about it that the baby will die...and I don't want that.

Answer
One of the ways birth control works is to prevent a newly concieved baby from implanting on the wall of the uterus.  This happens in the first day or two after conception.  So, yes, birth control pills can cause the baby to die.  

If, the newly concieved baby manages to attach itself to the uterus and the pregnancy continues, the pill isn't a good thing for the baby but it doesn't kill the baby.  The pill isn't good for you, so it isn't good for the tiny, developing child either.  That is why people who are against abortion are often against this type of birth control, too.