2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 11:16
There are medications that can be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding and others that should be avoided. Let's see the general rules that should guide you.
There is a myth that all drugs should be banned during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This means that many pregnant women are opposed to all forms of medication and suffer from discomfort for which there are however effective and safe products.
How do I know?
What to avoid at all costs during pregnancy and breastfeeding is self-medication, i.e. taking over-the-counter products without first checking with your doctor or your pharmacist that they are appropriate for your situation. Medications prescribed before becoming pregnant should also be given special attention since they may not be suitable for the new condition and have adverse effects on the he alth of the future mother and her fetus.
Ema Ferreira, pharmacist at the CHU Sainte-Justine and clinical professor at the University of Montreal (Louis-Boivin Family Pharmaceutical Chair) was closely involved in the writing of the Petit guide pregnancy and breastfeedingwho provides advice on drugs and other commonly used products in order to precisely address these questions. This practical guide responds to a real need since many mothers-to-be and breastfeeding mothers deprive themselves of relief for their ailments for which solutions are available, while others think that it is safe to use a product because it's over the counter. Ms. Ferreira explains to us that we must ask questions before taking or rejecting any medication. “All medications are mistakenly thought to be dangerous, yet some are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The most important thing is to talk to your he althcare professional before taking any medication. The doctor of course, but also the pharmacist who must be informed that you are pregnant or breastfeeding. »
Are there any medications that should absolutely be banned from the pregnant woman's pharmacy? "There is no general rule, the state of he alth of each woman must be taken into account before making this kind of decision", specifies Ms. Ferreira, adding that the pharmacist must be consulted even before choosing a multivitamin. or a pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ema Ferreira explains that several over-the-counter products (products for fever and pain, for example) already contain acetaminophen and that combining them with an additional tablet of acetaminophen could become dangerous. “The pharmacist will be able to inform you about theright dosage, on the combinations to avoid, on the products that would be more suitable for your state of he alth during pregnancy. As a general rule, it is not advisable to use multi-symptom products in favor of the medicine that you really need. »
Nausea
8 out of 10 pregnant women experience nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy. While for most people this nausea remains a simple discomfort that fades quickly, for others nausea is a real he alth problem. “There are solutions to severe nausea and you should not wait until you are in bad shape before consulting. If you can't eat, if you lose weight, if you have trouble doing your normal activities, see your doctor. If your follow-up appointment is too far in time, go see your pharmacist who may have collective prescriptions or will be able, with the entry into force of the new law, to prescribe you a medicine for severe nausea,” explains the pharmacist, adding that in certain regions of Quebec, nurses also have these collective prescriptions which authorize them to intervene to relieve you. “Do not hesitate to ask a he althcare professional if your nausea is “normal”; you don't have to endure severe nausea thinking it comes with pregnancy! »
Natural products and multivitamins
The natural products that you used before your pregnancy or that an acquaintancerecommends to you in good faith must also be validated: they are not all safe, far from it! So, before choosing a multivitamin or any other natural product yourself, take the time to ask questions of a he alth professional who will advise you based on your state of he alth, the progress of your pregnancy, the effectiveness of the product and especially its safe use.
Take the time to consult the Pregnancy and breastfeeding guide created by the Sainte-Justine Hospital team: it is a document to consult to help you protect your he alth and that of your unborn child. It is available for free in PDF and ePub format for mobiles.
Thanks to Ema Ferreira, pharmacist at the CHU Sainte-Justine and full clinical professor at the University of Montreal (Louis-Boivin Family Pharmaceutical Chair) for her collaboration on this article.
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