Taking medication during pregnancy can, in most cases, harm the baby because some components of the medication can cross the placenta, causing miscarriage or malformations, can induce uterine contractions prematurely or even cause undesirable changes in the pregnant woman and the baby.
The most dangerous medications are those that carry risk D or X, but pregnant women should never take any medication, even if it is category A, without first consulting a doctor.
Although it depends on the medicine in question, the stage of pregnancy in which it is most risky to use medicines is when the embryonic period occurs, which is the time when the beginnings of the main organs and systems are being formed, which occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, women must take extra care during this period.
What to do if you took medicine without knowing you were pregnant
If the pregnant woman took any medication when she did not yet know she was pregnant, she should inform the obstetrician immediately about the name and quantity of the medication used, to check the need for more specific tests, to assess the health of the baby and herself. mother.
Although complications can arise at any time during pregnancy, the chances of harming the baby’s development are greater during the first 3 months of pregnancy and that is why taking medications during pregnancy is more dangerous at this stage.
Medicines that can harm the baby
The FDA has defined several categories of medications based on their risk of teratogenicity, which is the ability to produce congenital malformations in the baby:
There are few medications that are included in category A and that are safe during pregnancy or that have studies that prove it, therefore, when deciding on treatment, the doctor should postpone their use, when possible, until after the first trimester. , use the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time possible and avoid prescribing new medications unless their safety profile is well known.
Medicines that can be used during pregnancy
There are some medications that can be used during pregnancy, which are those described in the leaflet with risk A, but always under the recommendation of the obstetrician.
How to reduce the risk of the baby having complications?
After confirming the pregnancy, to reduce the risk of the baby developing complications, you should only take the medicines prescribed by the obstetrician and always read the leaflet before using the medicine to check if there is a risk and what side effects may occur.
It is also important to be aware of some natural remedies and teas that are not recommended, such as bulb tea, horsetail or horse chestnut, for example. Discover the complete list of teas that pregnant women should not drink.
Furthermore, pregnant women should avoid alcoholic beverages and foods that contain artificial sweeteners because they contain substances that can accumulate in the baby’s body and can lead to developmental delays.
