Dr. Adam Urato on Obstetric Drugs That Harm Mothers and Babies

Dr. Adam Urato grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts—and returned to serve the same hospital he was born in. But over the course of his career as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, he discovered a troubling truth: much of what passes for “standard of care” in obstetrics isn’t grounded in good science—it’s driven by pharmaceutical profit.

In this gripping episode, Dr. Urato unpacks the decades-long use of Makena, a drug prescribed to prevent preterm birth that was ultimately pulled after being proven ineffective. He details how the same pattern of flawed trials, exaggerated benefits, and minimized risks is playing out again with SSRI use during pregnancy—putting fetal brain development at risk without informed consent.

Together with hosts Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh, Dr. Urato questions the systems that keep patients in the dark, the media silenced, and doctors bound by legal handcuffs to outdated protocols. He reminds us that medications are chemicals—and chemicals have consequences, especially during pregnancy.

If you’ve ever trusted a prescription without questioning where the science really comes from, this episode might just change the way you see modern medicine.