Safe medicine During Pregnancy

Safe medicine During Pregnancy

safe medicine during pregnancy

For a woman who wants to have a baby, pregnancy is the most important phase of life. At this time she has to be very careful about her health. Like what to eat and what to avoid in diet, and not only in diet but in everything like medicine, exercise, etc.

You may have noticed that your pregnancy has come with its own share of physical challenges. There is bloating, joint pains and even sleep deprivation. But any of these shouldn’t be the reason to just pop pills without your doctor’s recommendation. But in the case of using the medicine, everyone has to follow a simple rule and the rule is to consult a doctor.

Many women take micronutrient supplements before, during and after pregnancy to ensure they and their babies are receiving adequate vitamins and minerals. A common one is a folic acid, which prevents birth defects in the baby’s brain and spinal cord.

Many women also take medications for pregnancy-related conditions such as morning sickness bloating, joint pains and even sleep deprivation. But pills that were seemingly harmless and helpful before pregnancy can be very dangerous for you and your growing baby during these nine months. This makes it crucial for you to know what medications to avoid during pregnancy. But we should keep in mind that sometimes medication has a very harmful effect on a fetus it may cause several birth defects in developing child-like mental disorder body deformity improper functioning of organs.

What to avoid?

Some anticancer drugs and immune-system-modifying medicines like those used for rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease should be avoided because they could affect fetal immunity or cell growth.

Aspirin.

Unless specifically prescribed by your physician.

Alcohol.

alochol

Alcohol in chronic or high doses can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, where offspring show differences in their face and head, are smaller or shorter than average and have learning and behavioral difficulties.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).

Other medications such as the epilepsy drug phenytoin, the anticoagulant warfarin, the mood stabilizers valproate and lithium (to treat bipolar disorder) have all been linked to severe birth defects.

Herbs, minerals, amino acids, and regular vitamins.

·        Thalidomide.

Used in the late 1950s to treat morning sickness, thalidomide was found to cause severe limb defects.

·       Isotretinoin

(sold as Accutane, now Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Zenatane) taken for acne

Vitamin A derivatives from supplements or medicines (such as etretinate and isotretinoin) have been found to cause malformations of the head, heart, brain and spinal cord in significant dosages.

Safe Medications to Take During Pregnancy

Allergy

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• Loratadine (Claritin)

• Steroid nasal spray (Rhinocort)

Cold and Flu

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Saline nasal drops or spray

• Warm salt/water gargle

Constipation

• Colace

• Metamucil

Rashes

• Benadryl cream

• Caladryl lotion or cream

• Hydrocortisone cream or ointment

• Oatmeal bath (Aveeno)

Contact your doctor before taking these in the first trimester.

Other things which we must avoid during pregnancy.

• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeine (no more than one cup of coffee or tea per day)
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid illegal drugs
• cat litter, which can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis
• Avoid raw fish or smoked seafood
• Avoid shark, swordfish, mackerel, or white snapper fish (they have high levels of mercury)
• Avoid raw sprouts
• Avoid unpasteurized milk or other dairy products
• strenuous exercise or strength training that could cause an injury to your stomach.

Type of Remedy: Allergy

Safe Medications to Take During Pregnancy

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Loratidine (Claritin)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)

Type of Remedy: Cold and Flu

Safe Medications to Take During Pregnancy

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Dextromethorphan (Robitussin)
• Guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• Vicks Vapor Rub mentholated cream
• Mentholated or non-mentholated cough drops
• (Sugar-free cough drops for gestational diabetes should not contain blends of herbs or aspartame)
• Pseudoephedrine (after 1st trimester)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Saline nasal drops or spray
• Warm salt/water gargle

In general, doctors say it is usually safe to take:

• Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for fever and pain.
• Penicillin and some other antibiotics.
• HIV medicines.
• Some allergy medicines, including loratadine (such as Alavert and Claritin) and diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl).
• Some medicines for high blood pressure.
• Most asthma medicines.

Which nutrients are most important during pregnancy?

1.   Folic acid

2.   Iron

3.   Calcium

4.   Vitamin D

5.   DHA

6.   Iodine