What effect did thalidomide have on pregneant women?

Thalidomide, originally prescribed in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a sedative and anti-nausea medication for pregnant women, caused severe birth defects in thousands of infants. Babies born to mothers who took thalidomide often suffered from limb abnormalities, organ defects, and other serious health issues, a condition known as phocomelia. The drug's tragic impact led to stricter regulations on drug testing and approval processes for pregnant women. Its use in pregnancy has since been banned in many countries, although thalidomide is now used under strict controls for certain medical conditions.