Baby And Me

Getting sick while pregnant can be a very scary thing because the potential mother is torn between a desire to ease the symptoms and an excessive fear of harming the growing baby. The mum to be is usually afraid of ingesting something that may cause birth defects or negatively impact the baby's development.

The importance of rational drug therapy in pregnant women cannot be overemphasized, as this can be seen in the case of Thalidomide. Thalidomide was used in the late 1950s as a sedative and as an agent to combat “morning sickness.” It was a drug that was generally regarded as safe even in pregnant women but later turned out to be a teratogen of all time. I guess we all know the tragedy of the birth defects of babies born to women that were on the drug during pregnancy.

The damage caused by medications during gestation can be classified into 2 broad categories: those that are teratogenic and those that cause adverse fetal effects. Teratogens cause alteration of tissue development or organ formation and occur early in pregnancy. The most significant teratogenic period is the first trimester (first three months of pregnancy).Therefore, extra care should be taken with drugs at this stage. The most common teratogenic effects are neural tube defects, congenital heart abnormalities, cleft lip or palate, and fetal stillbirth.

Are you trying to conceive or already pregnant? Then these tips are for you!
•Where possible, use non drug therapy. We are in a phase of too much dependence on pills forgetting that non pharmacological approaches can also be used to eliminate simple symptoms. If your headache is stress induced instead of popping pills, why not take a break and have a nap.

•The old saying that prevention is better than cure is as true as ever. Why rely on antibiotics when environmental and personal hygiene would have done the trick? You can do your part to avoid some illnesses. Eat, sleep and exercise right.

•When on an appointment with your healthcare provider, NEVER forget to mention that you are pregnant. Even if you are trying for a baby but still haven’t confirmed, please always bring it to the notice of your provider.

•Simply put, indiscriminate over-the counter- drug purchases should never be practiced by a pregnant woman. I know you may have taken the drugs sometime ago and it was safe, but this is a reminder that it isn’t all about you any longer because there is life growing inside you.

•Not all natural supplements are safe for you. Most natural concoctions have not been standardized and there is scanty information on their safety in pregnancy, it is best to avoid such herbal medicines in pregnancy.

Below are a guide of the over-the counter drugs used in the management of pregnancy related ailments
For pain
It is safer to take paracetamol(acetaminophen) in pregnancy than NSAIDs. Aspirin can cause Reyes syndrome in the baby. Ibuprofen and naproxen can trigger a decrease in amniotic fluid levels in third trimester (which means less cushioning for baby)

For constipation
This is a common discomfort in pregnancy as the hormone progesterone slows down the smooth muscles thereby decreasing bowel movement. The uterus also pushes down on the intestines worsening this case. Increase in fibre intake from fruits and vegetables helps this condition. Lactulose and milk of magnesia are safe alternatives.

For bacterial Infections
Penicillins and cephalosporins have always been a safer alternative in pregnancy than other antibiotics.

For malaria
The ACTs are not recommended in the first trimester of pregnancy. Chloroquin, Mefloquin, Proguanil, Quinine, Sulphaldoxime/Pyrimethamine are safer alternatives.
Of course, nothing is 100 percent safe for all pregnant women, so it's a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before taking any kind of medicine during pregnancy, even an over-the-counter product. Don't take more than the recommended dose and, if possible, avoid taking anything during your first trimester, when your developing baby is most vulnerable.