Baby's Story

A lot of medications – those that are sold over the counter or with prescription – can be taken without danger during the pregnancy, but there are some that can affect the baby’s development and this also depends during which month you are taking these medications. If you are taking a medication that is problematic, you will probably be able to take one that is safer. Keep in mind however that readjusting dose’s and checking the effects can take some time.

The following are some common medications that a lot of women ask about before getting pregnant:

• Birth Control Pills: there are many times in which women become pregnant when they have been taking the pill (perhaps because they skipped taking a pill one day or took it after the indicated time) worry that their baby is going to come out with birth defects. However it has not been seen that birth control pills cause birth defects in babies. Two or three percent of all the babies that are born with a defect, and the babies of women that take birth control pills are not at major risk. 

• Ibuprofen: using these every once in awhile during pregnancy as well as other anti inflammatory agents that do not have steroids, have not been associated with problems in babies. However, you should avoid using them a lot during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester, because they have the potential of affecting the function of a platelets and blood vessels in the baby’s circulation system.

• Vitamin A: the complicated thing about this is that if there is an excess amount of this vitamin in the blood flow, it can cause an abortion and severe birth defects. This situation is even more complicated because vitamin A can stay in the body up to several months after having taken it. It is important to stop taking any medications that have vitamin A for at least a month before getting pregnant. It is not known if the topical creams that have vitamin A derives, are as problematic as are the drugs that are taken and because of this we urge you to talk to your doctor about it first.
• Some women take vitamin A supplements because they are vegetarian or do not eat a lot in their normal diet, or because they suffer from a deficiency of this vitamin. The maximum amount that is safe to take during pregnancy is 5,000 international units a day. It would be necessary take two times that amount to be in the danger zone. 

• Anticoagulants: women with a tendency of developing blood clots and those that have artificial heart valves need to take anticoagulant agents every day. If they are taken during pregnancy, it can cause abortions, affect the growth of the baby or cause bleeding problems or structural abnormalities. If you are taking an anticoagulant and wish to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about it.

• High Pressure Medication: a lot of these medications are considered safe during pregnancy. However, since some can cause problems, it will be necessary to talk to the doctor about which ones are being taken.

• Anticonvulsive Medication: some medications that are used for preventing convulsions that are caused by epilepsy are safer than others when it comes to pregnancy. If you do take them make sure to talk to your doctor about it. Do not stop taking your medication though without consulting with your doctor, as a convulsion can be more dangerous for you and your baby.

• Tetracycline: if this medication is taken during the pregnancy, much later on, it can cause the baby’s teeth to be yellow.

• Antidepressants: a lot of antidepressants, Prozac being one of them, have been studied extensively and are considered to be safe during pregnancy. If you do take antidepressants and are planning on having a baby, make sure to ask your doctor if you will be able to continue taking them during your pregnancy.