Medications During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, it is important to understand that everything you take into your body passes from your blood to baby's blood; therefore, it is best to avoid all over-the-counter medicines especially in the first eight weeks of pregnancy (ten weeks after your last menstrual period).

This period is particularly important because it is during the first eight weeks are when your baby's heart, lung and brain systems are being formed. Remember that no medication is safe for 100 percent of the people, however there are times when the benefits of a medication far outweigh any risks.

If you are under the weather while pregnant you do have other options. Before taking over-the-counter medicines try other ways to relieve your symptoms.

For cold and cough symptoms it is recommended you rest, drink extra fluids and use a cool mist vaporizer - 18 inches from your face. Occasionally it may be necessary for your doctor to prescribe medicines during pregnancy.

Take exactly as prescribed. If prescribed an antibiotic, take all the medication. Remember: the healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be. If you are unable to tolerate the medicine, call the clinic.

 

Safe medications for pregnancy

This website is just intended to guide you and provide you with information. You should always consult a professional before you start taking any medications. Your best sources of information will be: a well-informed physician; The Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov); The March of Dimes (www.modimes.org).
If you need to take some medication during your pregnancy, follow these tips to help minimize the potential for any adverse side effects:

 

be sure to discuss with your physician the possibility of taking the medication in the smallest effective doses for the shortest possible time

be sure that you take the medication when it will be of most help to you; for example, taking a cold medication at night is most helpful because it will help you get to bed

remember to follow any directions given to you b your physician or pharmacist carefully; some medications should be taken on an empty stomach, while others need to be taken with a meal. Also, try to get all you prescriptions at the same pharmacy. This way, your pharmacist will be able to warn you of potential drug interactions. Also, be sure to check the name and dosage on the bottle to be sure it's the drug specified by your doctor.

Always ask about possible side effects and which ones should be reported to your doctor.

You can ensure that your medication goes down more easily by drinking a sip of water before you swallow a capsule or tablet, and by drinking a full glass afterward.

Though we recommend staying away from medications during pregnancy, there are some that are considered safe. Remember it is best to wait to take these until after the first ten weeks of pregnancy, and that all medications taken during pregnancy should be first cleared by your health care provider.