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 Concern
Treatment
 Pregnancy
Experiences
Pregnancy
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Vitamins and Herbs
Most people are accustomed to the convenience of
reaching for over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, dietary
supplements or herbs to aid their health, but reproductive
specialists say pregnant women should be aware that even the most
readily available medicinal products can adversely affect a
foetus.
Experts say that at least 10% of birth defects can be attributed to
maternal drug exposure. And while most over-the-counter drugs have
a good safety profile, many have not been evaluated in controlled
trials, making their use during pregnancy potentially dangerous.
For example, many commonly used pain medications (including
acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen) cross
the placenta, and pregnant women should use these only at the
direction of their doctor. The same goes for OTC decongestants,
expectorants and antihistamines, most of which have not been
studied well in pregnancy, prompting many doctors to discourage any
OTC treatment for pregnant women who develop a common cold.
Pregnant women also should be cautious about OTC medications for
diarrhoea, heartburn and vaginal fungus, as many are not considered
safe during pregnancy.
Likewise, many commonly used herbs have not been tested on pregnant
women. Some have biochemically-active substances that can cause
subtle changes in cellular systems, including the growth and
development of your baby. So if you’re considering using a herbal
remedy during pregnancy, it’s always best to discuss it with your
doctor first.
Most pregnant women are given prescription prenatal vitamins to
meet their heightened nutritional needs during pregnancy, so
additional OTC vitamins and dietary supplements are not
necessary.
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