Safe Medications during Pregnancy

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Below is a list of recommendations and safe medications for common ailments during pregnancy.

Increased perspiration/feeling of  warmth

  • Daily bathing
  • Increased fluid intake
  • comfortable (looser fitting) clothing

Breast changes

  • Good support bra
  • Avoid breast stimulation

Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)

  • Soothing baths
  • decrease caffeine
  • relaxation techniques like sleep apps or yoga nidra
  • Benadryl 25 mg beforebed (limit 2-3 times/wk),
  • Zzzquil
  • Chamomile tea
  • Melatonin
  • Unisom SleepTABS

Fatigue

  • Rest
  • Adequate diet
  • Vitamin B complex
  • Diffuse peppermint oil

Heartburn or indigestion

Sleep with head elevated, decrease fatty foods, eat small frequent meals

Papaya enzymes (as often as needed), Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Zantac, Prilosec OTC, Pepcid (NO PeptoBismol)

Nausea/vomiting (call if unable to keep down fluids  for 24 hours)

Small meals, avoid odorus and greasy foods, separate food and drink intake, Sea-Band acupressure,acupuncture (available at FCWC)

Ginger, Vitamin B6 50mg every 6 hours PLUS Unisom SleepTABS every night

Headache

Relaxation techniques, Meditation

Tylenol, Magnesium 500mg once or twice daily, beverages or tylenol with 50-65mg of caffeine, Natural Calm

Constipation

Increase roughage (fresh fruits and vegetables), drink more water, eat dried fruits

Super Aloe tablets (available at FCWC), Natural Calm,Milk of Magnesia, Doxidan, Fibercon,Citrucel, Senokot, Metamucil, Surfak, Peri-Colace

Backache

Support garments (bellybands,Gabrialla belt), medium to low heels, heat and massage,chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture

Tylenol

Dizziness

Cool environment,support hose or compression stockings, avoid rapid changes in position,adequate diet and hydration, avoid fatigue, deep breathing

Dramamine

Shooting Pain

Warm compresses, roll to side lying position, push with hands to sitting position in the AM

Lower perineal ache,pressure/sensation  something is falling out

Resting on side,vaginal exercise (Kegel), V2 supporter, pregnancy Spanx

Swelling (legs, ankles, hands,  feet,etc)

Increase hydration,bigger shoes, remove rings, elevate legs when awake and sleeping, wrist supportbraces for carpal tunnel, compression stockings

Alfalfa 500mg 3 times a day in the 3rd trimester only (not for use in women with autoimmune disease),Dilute rosemary oil

Cold symptoms

Tylenol Cold products, Coricidin HBP

Congestion

Increase hydration, Nasal saline rinse, steam inhalation, humidifier or vaporizer

Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec

Cough

Honey, peppermint, salt/water gargle, humidifier or vaporizer

Robitussin, Mucinex after 16 weeks (without pseudoephedrine)

Sore throat

Honey, salt/water gargle, humidifier or vaporizer

Throat lozenges, Chloraseptic spray

Diarrhea

Increase hydration, BRAT diet

Imodium AD, Kaopectate

NO Pepto Bismol or Lomoti!

Hemorrhoids

Annusol, PreparationH, Tucks (keep in the refrigerator)

Gas

Mylcion, Gas X