Can you take Adalimumab Injection while pregnant?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
In most cases yes, adalimumab can be used during pregnancy, and many people stay on it because keeping the underlying disease controlled protects both you and your baby. Adalimumab is an antibody that crosses the placenta mainly in the second and third trimesters, so a baby exposed late in pregnancy can carry the drug for several months after birth. That matters most for live vaccines, which are usually delayed until the baby is at least 6 months old. Some specialists adjust the timing of the last dose before delivery, especially if your disease has been quiet, while others continue treatment straight through. Flares of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or psoriasis during pregnancy are linked to problems of their own, so stopping is not automatically the safer choice. Your rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, or obstetrician should make this plan with you, ideally before you conceive.
What to do
- Plan before you conceive: Ask your specialist how they want to handle adalimumab during pregnancy while you are still planning, not after a positive test.
- Do not stop on your own: Skipping doses without a plan can trigger a flare that is harder on the pregnancy than staying on treatment.
- Tell every clinician: Make sure your obstetrician, specialist, and your baby's pediatrician all know you used adalimumab and when your last dose was.
- Time infant vaccines: Live vaccines such as rotavirus and BCG are usually postponed until your baby is at least 6 months old; inactivated vaccines follow the normal schedule.
- Ask about breastfeeding: Adalimumab passes into breast milk in very small amounts and is generally considered compatible with nursing, so raise it rather than assuming you must stop.
- Report the exposure: Ask about enrolling in a pregnancy exposure registry, which tracks outcomes and improves guidance for future pregnancies.