Taking medicine in pregnancy can in most cases harm the baby because some components of the drug can cross the placenta, causing abortion or malformations, can induce uterine contractions prematurely or even cause undesirable changes in the pregnant and the baby.
The most dangerous drugs are those that are at risk D or X, but the pregnant woman should never take any medicine, even if it is in category A, without first consulting the doctor.
What to do if you took medicine without knowing you were pregnant
If the pregnant woman took any medication while she did not 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 evaluate the baby's health and the health of the baby. mom.
Although complications can occur at any time during pregnancy, the chances of harming the baby's development are greatest during the first 3 months of pregnancy, so taking medications during pregnancy is more dangerous at this stage.
Remedies that can harm your baby
The FDA has defined several categories of drugs based on their risk of teratogenicity, which is the ability to produce congenital malformations in the baby:
| Category A | Controlled studies in pregnant women showed no risk for the fetus in the first trimester, and there was no evidence of risk in the following quarters. The possibility of fetal damage is remote. |
| Category B | Animal studies have not shown a risk to the fetus but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal studies have shown adverse effects but controlled studies in pregnant women have not demonstrated this risk. |
| Category C | Animal studies do not indicate risk to the fetus and there are no controlled studies in pregnant women, or there are no animal or human studies. The medicine should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks. |
| Category D | There is evidence of human fetal risk, but there are situations where benefits may prevail in relation to risks. |
| Category X | There is a definite risk based on evidence and is therefore contraindicated in pregnant or fertile women. |
| NR | Not classified |
There are few drugs that are included in category A and are safe in pregnancy or have studies that prove it, so when deciding on treatment, the doctor should postpone its use, if possible, after the first trimester, use the lowest effective dose and for as short a time as possible and avoid prescription of new drugs unless their safety profile is well known.
Remedies that can be used during pregnancy
There are some remedies that can be used during pregnancy, which are those described in the package insert with risk A, but always under the indication of the obstetrician.
How to reduce the risk of complications?
After confirming the pregnancy, to reduce the risk of developing complications, one should only take the medicines prescribed by the obstetrician and read the package insert before using the medicine to see if there is a risk and what are the side effects that can occur.
It is also important to be aware of some natural remedies and teas that are not indicated, such as bulb tea, horsetail or chestnut from India, for example. Get to know the complete list of teas that the pregnant woman should not take.
In addition, the pregnant woman 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 a delay in development.
