Prescription Drugs in Pregnancy and Childbirth
UPDATED JUL 28, 2026
Standard Case 2026-045-IG-UA
Today, July 28, 2026, the Oversight Board selected a case appealed by an Instagram user regarding a video about prescription medications taken during pregnancy and childbirth.
In February 2026, the user shared a video on Instagram accompanied by a caption in which she detailed adverse effects she experienced from multiple prescription medications prescribed for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. She also described receiving fentanyl in a clinical setting during labor, noting that an epidural was ultimately the only treatment that provided relief. The video included memes and short clips illustrating how each drug affected her throughout the pregnancy.
Following automated detection and subsequent human review, Meta removed the post under our policy on Restricted Goods and Services, as laid out in the Community Standards, which prohibits content admitting to personal use of high-risk drugs, including fentanyl. A strike and a time-based feature limit were also applied to the user's account. The user appealed to Meta, and after additional human review, the original removal decision was upheld.
Upon the Board bringing this case to Meta's attention, we determined that the original decision to remove the post was an error. Under our Restricted Goods and Services policy, content containing admission of prescription drug use is permitted with visibility restricted to users 18 years or older and the content made ineligible for recommendation. Meta restored the post and reversed the account strike in line with this policy.
We will implement the Board's decision once it has finished deliberating, and we will update this post accordingly. Please see the Board's website for the decision when they issue it.