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Medications in pregnancy
Any medication you take will have some effect on the baby, too, because it will be absorbed into your circulatory system and travel across the placenta into the baby’s blood stream. There are very few medications that have been proven to cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women. That does not guarantee however, that commonly used medications are absolutely safe.
Even though drugs are tested heavily before they are put on the market, the connection between a medication and a birth defect is sometimes hard to determine. Also, experiments using animals do not always indicate how a drug will behave when taken by humans. This is why pharmaceutical companies state that most medications have not been proven safe for pregnant women.
Minimizing the risks to you and your baby :
When considering whether or not to take a medication while pregnant, it is important to realize that leaving certain diseases untreated could also harm your baby.
Everything you do has a potential risk, so you need to consider how great are the chances that you are putting your pregnancy in danger. For example, most pregnant women continue to drive because the risks of being injured in a traffic accident are relatively small. However, cigarette smoking greatly increases the chance of having a low birth weight baby so many women stop smoking during pregnancy. Some substances, such as crack cocaine, are so clearly linked to problems after birth that it would be irresponsible for a woman to use these drugs during pregnancy.
Your medical provider should thoroughly discuss the risks involved in taking a particular medication while pregnant. Also, you should always ask your provider to state clearly the potential harmful effects on you and your baby if you do not take the medication.
Common medications during pregnancy
It important to consult your medical provider before taking any medication, Do not rely on the advice of friends and relatives to determine if a drug is safe.
The following are a few conditions which may require medications.
If a Woman has a chronic disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure, taking medication is unavoidable.
Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy and is sometimes treated with stool softeners or fiber laxatives.
Medical providers sometimes suggest mild over-the-counter pain relievers to ease minor discomforts of pregnancy such as backaches.
If vomiting from morning sickness in early pregnancy becomes severe, take some anti-nausea medication, that is prescribed by you medical provider.
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