Medications and Pregnancy
Friday, November 28, 2008
Medications, Parenting
You may take certain over-the-counter supplements and medications without thinking twice. But when you’re pregnant, even drugs that you can buy without a prescription can affect the developing fetus.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines about medications and pregnancy:
- Don’t take any medicine or herbal supplement without checking with your doctor.
- Try not to take any medicine during your first trimester of pregnancy, when your baby is most likely to be affected.
- If you are having pain, acetaminophen is usually safe for pregnant women to take for a short period. But you should first check with your doctor.
- Don’t take aspirin while you’re pregnant.
- Don’t take an NSAID — such as Advil, Motrin or Aleve — while you’re pregnant, particularly during your third trimester.