Antidepressants and pregnancy

Perhaps the most difficult factor in making a decision whether to take antidepressant medications is the mother herself. During pregnancy, there is a strong impulse to do everything possible to have a healthy baby.

However, the mother often ignores her own needs. A predisposition towards depression may complicate matters. The telltale signs of depression may creep up before the mother is even aware of them.

Don't count on your own judgment to know if you're handling things okay without your medications. Keep in touch with your physician and let your friends and family know that they should monitor you for the signs of depression.

If there's any doubt about your ability to handle being without your medications, seek support and if necessary resume taking your medication. Remember, you must take care of yourself first in order to be able to take care of your baby.

For more information on using Prozac during pregnancy, visit Women's Health.

Aspirin and Pregnancy

It is especially important not to use aspirin during the last three months of pregnancy, unless specifically directed to do so by a physician because it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.

Also, aspirin is transferred to breast milk and it is estimated that a nursing baby receives about 4-8% of the mother's dose. Continued exposure to small doses of aspirin may be harmful to babies because aspirin tends to build up in their bodies.

In some countries, nursing woman are advised against aspirin use because of the possible development of Reye's Syndrome in their babies. This is a rare condition that affects the brain and liver and is most often observed in children given aspirin during a viral illness.

Because sufficient information is not available to accurately determine the extent of aspirin accumulation in babies and the resulting health outcomes, aspirin intake by nursing mothers should be considered unsafe.

 


Table of Contents
1. Medications
2. Which medicines are safe?
3. Is aspirin ok?
4. Tips for Tylenol safety
 
 
Login to comment
(0 Comments)

Post a comment

Advertisement