Safe Medications to Take During Pregnancy
* Allergy Benadryl
Cold and Flu Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Tylenol Cold
Warm salt/water gargle
Saline nasal drops or spray
Sudafed, Actifed, Dristan, Neosynephrine*
Robitussin DM, Trind-DM, Vicks Cough Syrup, Romilar, Halls*
*Do not take "SA" (sustained action) forms of these drugs or the
"Multi-Symptom" forms of these drugs.
Constipation Metamucil
Citrucil
Fiberall/Fibercon
Colace
Milk of Magnesia
Senekot
Diarrhea For 24 hours, only after 12 weeks of pregnancy:
Kaopectate
Immodium
Parepectolin
First Aid Ointment J & J
Bacitracin
Neosporin
Headache Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Heartburn Maalox
Mylanta
Tums
Riopan
Titralac
Gaviscon
Hemorrhoids Preparation H
Anusol
Tucks
Witch hazel
Nausea and Vomiting Vitamin B6 100 mg tablet
Emetrol (if not diabetic)
Emetrex
Sea bands
Rashes Hydrocortisone cream or ointment
Caladryl lotion or cream
Benadryl cream
Oatmeal bath (Aveeno)
Yeast Infection Monistat or Terazol
Do not insert applicator too far *Please Note: No drug can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy.
Can I Take Alternative Therapies During Pregnancy?Many pregnant women believe "natural" products can be safely used to
relieve nausea, backache, and other annoying symptoms of pregnancy, but
many of these so called natural products have not been tested for their
safety and effectiveness in non pregnant women, much less in pregnant
women. Therefore, it is very important to check with your health care
provider before taking any alternative therapies. He or she will not
recommend a product or therapy until it is shown to be safe and
effective.
What Alternative Therapies Are Considered Safe During Pregnancy?There are some alternative therapies that have been shown to be safe
and effective for pregnant women to take to relieve some of the
uncomfortable side effects of pregnancy.
Nausea in early pregnancy: acupuncture, acupressure, ginger root
(250 mg capsules 4 times a day), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 25 mg two
or three times a day) work well.
Backache: chiropractic manipulation holds the best track record.
Turning a breech baby: exercise, hypnosis, and traditional
Chinese treatment (burning incense-like substance on the fifth toe)
have proven beneficial.
Pain relief in labor: epidurals are most effective, but
injections of sterile water near a woman's tailbone works surprisingly
well, as do immersion in a warm bath, and a high tech nerve stimulator
called TENS. Relaxation techniques, patterned breathing, emotional
support, and self-hypnosis are already widely used alternative
therapies in labor.
What Alternative Therapies Should Be Avoided?The following substances have the potential to harm a developing baby
when used in a concentrated formulation (not as a spice in cooking).
Some are thought to cause birth defects, and encourage early labor.
Avoid these oral supplements: Arbor vitae, Beth root, Black
cohosh, Blue cohosh, Cascara, Chaste tree berry, Chinese angelica (Dong
Quai), Cinchona, Cotton root bark, Feverfew, Ginseng, Golden seal,
Juniper, Kava kava, Licorice, Meadow saffron, Pennyroyal, Poke root,
Rue, Sage, St. John's wort, Senna, Tansy, White peony, Wormwood,
Yarrow, Yellow dock, vitamin A (large doses can cause birth defects).
Avoid these aromatherapy essential oils: calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram, and thyme.
If you have any doubt regarding the safety of a medication, both
traditional and alternative, contact your health care provider before
taking the therapy
American Pregnancy AssociationFor those of you that may be interested in a more naturopathic life style I recommend these books:
Naturally Healthy Woman by
Shonda ParkerNaturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker
Mommy Diagnostics: The Naturally Healthy Family's Guide to Herbs and Whole Foods for Health by Shonda Parker
The ABC Herbal: A Simplified Guide to Natural Health Care for Children by Steven H. Horne
Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria by Stephen Harrod Buhner