Safe Medications During Pregnancy

A common question throughout pregnancy is, “what medications can I take while pregnant?”  You may use this as a guideline for medications safe to use during your pregnancy. Please call the office if your symptoms persist or if you have a fever over 100.4 degrees.  As always if you feel you have an emergency, call 911 and proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Cold Symptoms

For allergy or cold symptoms, you may take Sudafed or Sinus Tylenol, Robitussin (Plain or DM) for cough, and Sucrets or Chloraseptic Lozenges for sore throat associated with allergies or a cold.

Indigestion

Maalox, Mylicon, Gaviscon, Mylanta (chewable or liquid), or Tums are all safe to take for indigestion. If you have persistent issues with indigestion, there are some things you can do: eat small, frequent meals, avoid carbonated beverages and spicy foods, do not drink through a straw, and do not lie down after eating. If these changes don't help or if you have nausea and vomiting or severe abdominal pain, contact your physician.

Headaches or Discomfort

Tylenol - Regular or Extra Strength. Ibuprofen may be used in the first and second trimesters ONLY. DO NOT USE ASPIRIN. Call the office if pain persists or if headaches are accompanied by blurred vision, pain in the upper right abdomen, sudden weight gain, or swelling of the face and/or hands.

Minor Bladder Irritations

Eliminate all carbonated beverages, coffee, and tea from your diet. Increase your water intake to 8-10 glasses per day and drink 3-4 glasses of cranberry juice per day.

If urinary symptoms include hesitancy when you start to void, a strong sense of urgency to void, increased frequency and burning on urination, low abdominal pain or cramping, back or flank pain, blood in the urine, or foul-smelling urine, fever, chills, please call the office immediately.

Swelling

Do not add salt to your food and limit or omit high-sodium foods such chips, salted nuts, pretzels, soy sauce, bouillon and canned soups, bacon or ham and other processed meats. Many canned and processed foods contain a lot of sodium. Check nutrition labels and limit your sodium intake to 2 gms per day. Elevate your feet whenever possible. Please call the office if swelling continues, if you notice significant swelling in your face or hands, or if swelling is accompanied by a headache or epigastric pain.

Backache

Avoid wearing shoes with heals and standing for long periods of time. Sit in chairs that provide good back support. A warm bath, heating pad, or cold compresses can help ease back pain. You may take Tylenol as needed for pain. Call the office if backache continues.

In the late second and third trimesters, back pain can be a sign of preterm labor or urinary tract infection. If you have back pain that is intermittent and rhythmic, doesn't respond to any of the above treatments, or is accompanied by severe pain and/or fever, call the office immediately.

Nausea

Try eating dry crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. Eat every two or three hours throughout the day. Avoid smells that trigger nausea, alcohol, caffeine,highly seasoned or fatty foods and cigarette smoke. Often peppermint or ginger tea can help reduce nausea. Always take prenatal vitamins on a full stomach or if feeling nauseated. If not controlled with diet, try Emetrol or Nestrex. If vomiting continues, call the office.

Leg Cramps

Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time. It’s important to stay well-hydrated. Equally important is eating a balanced and calcium-rich diet. Stretch your legs three times each day and continue to get regular exercise. You can also lie down on your left side to improve circulation to your legs. You may also want to take a warm bath before you go to bed.

If you get a cramp, immediately stretch your calf muscles by straightening your leg - press down on your heel first and gently flex your toes back toward your shins. It can hurt at first, but it will ease the spasm and the pain will gradually go away. Try walking around for a few minutes after the cramp subsides.

Call the office immediately if your muscle pain is continuous and is accompanied by redness, warmth, tenderness, or swelling. These can be signs of deep vein thrombosis.

Stool Softner

Surfak, Dialose, Docusate, Metamucil, Fibercon are all safe to take during pregnancy.

Constipation

One of the best ways to avoid constipation is to stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Nutritional foods like fresh fruits and vegetables also help. Exercise is an important part of pregnancy, and it will help with constipation. Milk of Magnesia or Senekot are safe to take for constipation.

Diarrhea

You may want to stick to a bland or clear liquid diet if you have diarrhea until the diarrhea subsides. It is safe to take Kaopectate or Imodium to treat diarrhea after 12 weeks of pregnancy. If diarrhea lasts more than 48 hours or is accompanied by weakness and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, right upper abdominal or epigastric pain, headache, blurred vision, bleeding from the gums or from minor trauma, jaundice or yellowing of the skin, or pain in the shoulder or neck, call the office immediately.

Hemorrhoids

To prevent hemorrhoids, eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of liquids, fresh fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly.  If needed use a stool softenerand avoid standing or sitting in the same position for prolonged periods.

Try eating dry crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. Eat every two or three hours throughout the day. Avoid smells that trigger nausea, alcohol, caffeine,highly seasoned or fatty foods and cigarette smoke. Often peppermint or ginger tea can help reduce nausea. Always take prenatal vitamins on a full stomach or if feeling nauseated. If not controlled with diet, try Emetrol or Nestrex. If vomiting continues, call the office.

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