By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - At any given time, more than ten million women in this country are either pregnant or breastfeeding.

When women are pregnant there is no protective bubble. They are just as likely as most of us to have simple problems like sinus infections or upper respiratory problems or urinary tract infections.

This is important when it comes to medical care.

Doctors need to ask all women of childbearing age if they might be pregnant before prescribing treatments like antibiotics. That’s because some are safe during pregnancy but others are not.

It also means you should mention to your doctor that you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s very important that you say you might even become pregnant in a short time.

This part of communication is essential to good health care.