|
|
|
| Free E-magazine |
| Subscribe to our Free E-Magazine on Pregnancy. |
| Learn More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home > Nutrition and Health > Drugs and Pregnancy
| |
| | Drugs and Pregnancy
| |
| |
 Until the early 1960s, it was thought that the placenta pro-tected the fetus from harmful substances. The Thalidomide tragedy of the sixties proved otherwise. Thalidomide effective in controlling nausea in early pregnancy was considered harmless to the unborn child. Shortly after its introduction, an epidemic of babies born without limbs led to an exhaustive investigation that linked these birth defects to the drug. This prompted the Scientists to investigate whether other birth defects might be linked to other drugs and medications used during pregnancy.
It is difficult to trace the connection be-tween drugs and birth defects. The causes of birth defects may be several. Experimentation becomes difficult since humans have to be used as experimental subjects, and high risk is also involved. While the information gained from animal studies is valuable, it cannot necessarily be applied to humans. Isolating a single agent is difficult since most women consume numerous drugs and medications during their pregnancies. Finally, when the drug is being taken is important. It may be harmful if used in conjunction with other agents. Tracing the specific effects of particu-lar drugs is a complex one, but it is a known fact that virtually all drugs and medications taken by a pregnant woman cross the placenta and reach the fetus. The effect of the drugs on the fetus is possibly greater than their effect on the mother at the time of the fetus` rapid growth and development. Do not be worried by what to do and what not to do. We will try to explain about some of the most common drugs and provide some guidelines on their applications and best times of usage with respect to the progress of your pregnancy as also suggest any alternative drug if possible.
As a thumb rule, drugs should be used judiciously if you are pregnant. No drug has been proven totally safe for the fetus though many drugs are taken to be safe or at least not harmful. It is important for you to weigh the possible risks against the possible benefits. Use the drug only if the benefits outweigh the risks, otherwise try alternative treatments.
Alcohol
 Until the mid-l970s, it was believed that alcohol was harmless to the fetus. The assumption was that alcohol, by itself, even if consumed in large quantity by the pregnant woman, will not harm the fetus. Alcoholism was felt to be a problem because an al-coholic pregnant woman might tend to neglect her diet resulting in malnutrition in the fetus. We now know that alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the developing fetus. Alcohol quickly crosses the placenta and enters the fetus` blood in the same concentration as in the mother`s blood. Babies born of alcoholic mothers are at substantial risk for suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a cluster of disabilities that in-cludes mental and physical retardation, tremors, and peculiar facial characteristics.
Alcohol, even in small measures is now associated with some fea-tures of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Even an occasional binge drinking may have lasting harmful effects depending on its timing during pregnancy. Even moderate social drinking (about two drinks per day) may lead to lower birth weights.
If you are pregnant, it would be wise for you to give up drinking altogether - earlier the better. While drinking in early pregnancy is more likely to be associated with birth defects, drinking later in preg-nancy is more likely to be associated with smaller fetal size. Stopping at any time, therefore, will allow your baby the oppor-tunity to catch up in growth before birth.
There is no safe dose for alcohol
If you consume alcohol the baby receives it in his blood. Do not consume Beer and wine thinking that they are less harmful than hard liquor. The quantity of alcohol is the same in a four-ounce glass of wine or a can of beer as in a mixed drink.
If you were not aware of the harmful effects of alcohol, have drunk too much during your pregnancy it is but natural that you would be concerned about the health of your baby. You need not panic because the fetus probably benefits from the day you stop drinking. Remember that the fetus is remarkably strong and resilient. Babies handle difficulties very well. A high percentage of Mothers give birth to healthy babies who took drugs or medicines or had illnesses or other problems during their pregnancies. Do not get carried away thinking the fetus will be strong enough and deliberately abuse drugs. In case you have unknowingly used drugs, be reassured that the fetus has resources to help her combat their effects.
It is normally seen that pregnant women commonly de-velop an aversion to alcohol (as well as smoking and caffeine). Many women cut down on their use of alcohol simply because it loses its appeal. Perhaps this is nature`s way to safeguard the baby. Circumstance may make demand, on you like, say you are in a party, and forced to accept a drink. In this situation it is always advisable to opt for fruit juice, tomato juice or bottled water with a twist of lemon.
Tobacco
 The adverse effect of Tobacco smoking has been explored in detail. It is recommended that if you have the habit of smoking, you should cut down, if not stop altogether, your smoking before you plan to become pregnant.
Cigarette smoke contains tars, nicotine, carbon monoxide, lead that are harmful to both you and your unborn child and it has been observed that women who smoke give birth to underweight babies and have greater chances of premature rupture of the membranes, premature birth, prenatal death, placental abnormalities and bleeding during pregnancy. The chances of these above complications occurring increase if you are a regular smoker.
Your smoking also has a long-term ill effect on the child. It has been observed that in a family where one or both the parents smoke, the child may suffer from respiratory illness, may have a less developed IQ and are three to five months behind the children of non smokers. Children of smoking par-ents will be more inclined to smoke than the children of nonsmoking parents.
You may not be smoking, but you may be breathing in the smoke from your colleagues, friends or family. You are what is called a passive smoker. Passive smoking is harm-ful to your unborn child. You should try to avoid people who smoke as well as identified smoking areas. Sometimes you have to be assertive and forbid people to smoke near you.
Marijuana
The effect of marijuana smoking has not been researched conclusively till date. The fetus is affected by marijuana smoke as much as the mother, if not more. The amount of tar and nicotine in marijuana are considerably greater than in cigarettes as it has not been commercially viable to reduce these substances in marijuana.
Carbon monoxide, which is present in all smoke, restricts the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen. The long term effects of the additives of marijuana and the active ingredients of marijuana on the fetus are still not fully known.
Caffeine
 You will find caffeine in Coffee, tea, colas and other soft drinks (read the labels). Choco-late and some over-the-counter drugs contain caffeine. It has been found in some animal studies that caffeine con-sumption resulted in certain birth defects. While, another study in humans found that drinking coffee leads to abortion, stillbirth, prema-ture delivery, and low birth weight. The added effect of smoking has not been considered here. As many people who drink excessive amounts of coffee also smoke, it is difficult to distinguish the real cause of the problem. A study of over 12,000 women who had babies in a three-year period found that birth problems were more common among heavy coffee drinkers (those who consume more than four cups per day). When, the only coffee drinkers were eliminated from the heavy smokers who also drank coffee the ill effects disappeared. You might be reassured with this finding, if you are a coffee drinker, but "pru-dent and protective" expectant mothers should limit caffeine use.
Other than birth defects and pre-maturity, Caffeine causes an increased production of "stress" hormones--epineph-rine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine (noradrenalin). According to National Academy of Sciences report if you drank one to two cups of coffee, or two to three cups of tea per day these stress hormones concentrations increase. The availability of oxygen to the fetus decreases due to the effects of these hor-mones as they constrict peripheral blood vessels, including those in the uterus. The consumption of caffeine is directly proportional to the deprivation of oxygen of the fetus. Caffeine readily enters the fetal blood stream. If the baby has caffeine in her circulation at birth, it takes a much longer time to clear her system than it would take an adult.
It would be wise if you reduce, if not eliminate altogether, caffeine intake during pregnancy.
| |
| |
|
