Pregnancy and General Medicines

the Babble Staff

Most medical professionals agree that pregnant women need to be very careful when it comes to taking medication, even over-the-counter drugs. Some advocate more caution than others. Dr. Greene says always double-check the safety of a medication, even if you're receiving a prescription from your physician. Greene says almost half of pregnant women in the United States receive medications from their doctors that have not been proven safe for pregnancy by the FDA, or in some rare cases have been proven potentially unsafe. (Greene adds that these numbers may be an underestimate as they don't include pregnancies that end in the first trimester.) Other experts say that while all prescription drugs are tested before becoming available to the general public, they often haven't been tested on pregnant and breastfeeding women. Herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines may not have been tested at all. BABYCENTER reminds its readers that no drug is one hundred percent safe for pregnant women and that you should always check with your doctor before taking anything. Most doctors agree that, if possible, you should avoid medicines entirely, especially during the first trimester, they also say that if you must take a medicine, never take more, or less, than the recommended dose.

"Many pregnant women or mothers who are breastfeeding worry about whether to take medications - including prescription and over the counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements. They are afraid these could harm their child. However, sometimes taking medication can't be avoided." ...read the full article

"Almost half of the pregnant women in the in the United States receive prescriptions from their doctors for medications that the FDA has determined have no evidence to suggest safety during pregnancy, or worse, that evidence has shown can harm the baby developing within." ...read the full article

"Some of the ingredients in cold medications are considered safe for pregnant women, but others should be avoided. Remember that no drug is 100 percent safe for all women, so it's a good idea to check with your doctor or midwife before taking any kind of medicine during pregnancy." ...read the full article

"An agent that causes a birth defect to occur at a higher rate than expected is called a teratogen. The agent may be a chemical, a drug, an infection, radiation, or a maternal condition such as diabetes. Most teratogens produce their effect during sensitive times of development." ...read the full article

"Ideally, women should not wait until after they have their babies to begin exercising, according to Cram. 'The research is showing women who exercise throughout their pregnancies gain about eight pounds less and lose it much more quickly than women who have not exercised.'" ...read the full article