Dr. Wolfgang Paulus stressed the need to be careful when taking medications during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, as taking medications during this stage can cause fetal deformities.
The head of the Consultation Center for Drugs during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding at Ulm University Hospital in Germany added that after this stage, the fetus’s sensitivity to drugs decreases significantly.
Paulus pointed out that for minor complaints, such as allergies, symptoms can be treated topically, explaining that one option is nasal sprays, which only affect the mucous membranes of the nose, and do not constitute a burden on the fetus.
Paracetamol
As for the treatment of pain, the active ingredient paracetamol was recently suspected of causing asthma symptoms in children, but it has now become clear that it was not the active ingredient that caused the symptoms, but rather the stress experienced by mothers suffering from pain.
Therefore, Dr. Paulos reassured that medicines containing the active ingredient paracetamol are now safe under moderate use.
Home remedies
For her part, German midwife Manuela Rauer-Sell recommended that pregnant women try home remedies first, as they can deal with mild to severe health problems, such as colds, headaches, and back pain, by drinking sage tea with honey, a warm bottle, and throat wash.
Rauer-Sell added that in the case of planned medical interventions, such as dental treatment, the treating physician should be consulted if they can be postponed until after birth.
In general, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication, and she should also review the medication leaflet to find out whether the medication has side effects on the fetus.