If you accidentally take birth control pills while pregnant, it is usually not expected to harm the baby , but you should stop taking them once you know you’re pregnant and contact a clinician.

What to expect

  • Most studies do not show a major increase in birth defects from inadvertent early exposure to typical birth control pills.
  • You may have mild side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or mood changes, which can overlap with normal early pregnancy symptoms.
  • If the pill is progestin-only and pregnancy is confirmed, a clinician may want to review your situation promptly because some sources note special concern about ectopic pregnancy risk.

When to get help

Contact a healthcare professional soon if:

  • You have a positive pregnancy test and are still taking the pill.
  • You have one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, or heavy bleeding , which can be warning signs of ectopic pregnancy.
  • You want guidance on whether to stop immediately or switch to prenatal care safely.

Simple answer

Taking the pill while pregnant is generally not considered dangerous , but it is not meant to be continued during pregnancy , so it’s best to stop and check in with a doctor or midwife.

If you want, I can also give you a very short “what to do next” checklist.