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Current Medical Therapies and Medications |
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Late -
Pregnancy
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Current Medical Therapies and Medications The older you get, the more likely you are to develop medical conditions-some serious, most not so serious. Medications you use to treat those conditions may affect your baby during your pregnancy. We discuss some of those conditions and their treatments in this chapter.
First let us comment on the subject of medication during pregnancy. Many pregnant women believe if they can buy something without a prescription, it must be safe to use. Or they believe they can use any amount of vitamins, minerals or herbal substances without hesitation.
Beware of this type of thinking! Many substances you use can affect your growing baby. Some effects can be serious. Other effects may be subtle and cause minor birth defects. The effects of others may not be evident for years.
Researchers once believed the placenta acted as a barrier to any agent the mother was exposed to. Today we know that isn't the case. We have discovered that most drugs can cross the placenta and affect the fetus.
Before you take a medication for a common malady, such as a headache or indigestion, try a non medication approach. For example, you might treat a headache with a cold compress or by resting in a dark room. Prevent indigestion by avoiding foods that trigger it, eating smaller meals and eating slowly.
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