Pregnant Women Should Not Self-Medicate, Why?

Basics

oi-Gowri Nandini

By Nandhini Devi

Saturday, July 30, 2011, 11:46

The news of pregnancy excites a woman; she plans everything for the arrival of the new baby with a lot of care and happiness. She plans to eat healthy and also alters her lifestyle to suit her baby best. However, some pregnant women might choose to self-medicate themselves, not knowing that it could cause great danger to them and the baby.

Self-medication by pregnant women, specially followed in the first trimester, could cause serious complications to the unborn baby.

Self-medication by pregnant women includes many side effects such as malformation in children or hindrance in normal growth of the baby. Taking enemas or drinking 'grandma"s concoctions" is definitely not safe for a pregnant woman, even though it is a home-remedy.

The foetus undergoes major development in the first three months of gestation. By consuming self-medicated drugs, a pregnant woman puts the foetus into risk. Defects in the development of the reproductive organs are most common side-effect of self-medication by pregnant women. Other genital diseases that are common in this case is urinary retention, intersex, undescended testis and other problems with the urethral.

No pregnant woman completes her gestation without a cold, cough, fever or any other minor ailments. Whatever is the case, it is better for the pregnant woman to consult her doctor, before proceeding to take any medications. Follow the doctor"s directions on how to consume the drug and when to stop consuming it. This is because not completing the course of medication might lead to other pregnancy complications too.

As in all cases, detection of complications caused due to self-medication by pregnant women can be cured within the first year of a baby"s birth. However, the flaws might remain in the child for a long time to come. So, it is wise to not opt for drugs without prescription when you are pregnant.