Pregnancy is a delicate period in every woman's life and requires utmost care during the nine months. Along with physical and mental well-being, a pregnant woman needs to know about the consumption of various medicines during this phase, as many of these can cross the placenta and reach the foetus, leading to fatal congenital disabilities on the foetus. In worse cases, there can be miscarriages or severe threats to the mother. Due to this, pregnant women should consult their gynaecologist before consuming medicines other than those prescribed by the doctor.
In addition to taking precautions regarding medication during pregnancy, another important consideration is stem cell banking. Stem cell banking involves collecting and preserving stem cells from the umbilical cord blood and tissue of a newborn baby. These stem cells can potentially be used in the future to treat certain diseases and medical conditions.
Stem cell banking has become an increasingly popular option for parents-to-be who want to ensure that they have access to potentially life-saving treatments for their child in the future. The process is simple and painless, and there are several reputable companies like Cryovia India that offer this service at affordable price in India.
However for healthy pregnancy, it is inconvenient to communicate with the doctor for every minor detail. Hence, to help you with the same, here are some safe medicines for you and your child during pregnancy.
1. Cold and Cough
If you catch a cold during pregnancy, your first preference should be home remedies such as using methanol rubs, nasal strips, salt water gargles, and so on. However, if this does not help, here are some safe medicines during pregnancy:
- Herbal cough syrups
- Cough expectorant during the day and cough suppressants at night
- Dextromethorphan-containing cough syrups
Sudafed is an active ingredient in multiple cough syrups and is associated with increased blood pressure. Although it is safe to use during pregnancy, women with blood pressure-related problems should consult a doctor to be on the safer side.
2. Pain and Headache
There are many common symptom during pregnancy one of them is headache, and here are some headache relief medicines during pregnancy for a healthy baby:
- Acetaminophen is the safest option for relieving headaches or other pain during pregnancy. It is said to be the drug of choice throughout the gestation period.
- Opioids also relieve pain but can be unsafe at higher doses. Thus, the physician needs to be consulted.
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen are highly teratogenic and should be avoided during pregnancy.
3. Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can be treated with several medicines during pregnancy without any harmful risks or adverse effects. The most common anti-allergic medications for pregnant women are:
- OTC antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine, and chlorpheniramine, are safe for mild allergic reactions.
- For severe allergic reactions, corticosteroid spray at lower doses, with OTC antihistamines, is a safe option.
Pregnant women should avoid exposure to allergens that cause allergic reactions in their bodies, pregnanct woman alsways follow the pre-pregnancy to do list as prevention is better than cure. The most common allergens causing allergic reactions in humans are dust, pollen, pet dander and certain foods such as milk, nuts, and eggs.
4. Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are very common, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Home remedies such as consuming smaller meals and sipping ginger drinks and eating vegetables during pregnancy can help. However, in the case of severe nausea, here are some safe medicines during pregnancy:
- Doxylamine succinate and dimenhydrinate are the best options.
- In extreme cases, doxylamine succinate-pyridoxine hydrochloride and ondansetron are safe but better after consulting your doctor.
You may also consume Vitamin B-6 (25 grams) orally three times daily to suppress nausea.
5. Acidity and Heartburn
Another common discomfort during pregnancy is acidity and heartburn in pregnancy. Here are some of the most common medicines during pregnancy:
- Antacids, such as magnesium, calcium, and sodium, are safe during pregnancy. The most commonly used antacids are aluminium hydroxide and calcium carbonate.
- For heartburn treatment during pregnancy, H2 antihistamines are the safest option. Ranitidine and Cimetidine are the commonly used H2 antihistamine drugs for relieving heartburn during pregnancy.
Apart from this, several lifestyle changes, such as avoiding overeating, avoiding meals before sleeping, having smaller portions, and wearing loose-fitting clothes, can help.
6. Constipation
There is a wide class of anti-constipation agents, out of which the safest classes during pregnancy are listed below:
- Stool softeners are safest during pregnancy. However, the other classes of drugs can also help only after consulting your doctor.
- Laxatives like milk of magnesia, Senokot, and Dulcolax, must be consumed after consulting the physician.
Consuming fibres, such as fruits and whole wheat foods, can also help prevent constipation. You can have more fluids and exercise daily to help you solve your constipation problems.
Conclusion
Everyone has a different pregnancy experience; however, the conditions listed above are commonly experienced by most women. Hence, we've provided the best and safest medication options to help you during this phase. However, if you experience any other health conditions apart from these, you must consider consulting your gynaecologist to be on the safer side.