Expert Advice : Jon Martin, MRPharmS, BPharm, Independent Pharmacist
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Jon Martin is a fully qualified pharmacist, with 13 years experience. He has worked in a range of hospital and community pharmacy and represents his profession on the Oxfordshire Pharmaceutical Committee. |
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The single most important thing to remember when your pregnant and you visit your pharmacy is to tell them you are pregnant. The pharmacist doesn’t have access to your medical records and so they will not be able to take any possible problems into account if you don’t. Always read the label and leaflet on anything you buy and also on medicines you already have in the house which may have been suitable before pregnancy but not during. For everyday aches and pains, paracetamol is far and away the safest painkiller to use. If you’ve tried it already and feel you require something stronger, then you need to speak to your GP. Coughs and colds are best treated with painkillers and maybe hot honey and lemon (a good blob of honey in the mug and the juice of half a lemon). You should avoid decongestants if you have a cold or hayfever as they can restrict blood flow around the body and raise blood pressure. If you have a head cold, sitting with your head over a bowl of steaming hot water, with a towel over both to hold the steam in, can help clear through your nose and sinuses. Heartburn is a common problem as the baby squeezes your tummy up, there is a very safe product called Gaviscon which forms a jelly-like barrier across the top of your stomach, keeping the acid down where it should be. (You should not take it though if you have been advised to follow a low sodium diet during your pregnancy). Although there are many medicines used routinely during pregnancy, most must be given under the supervision of a doctor and are not licensed for sale in pharmacies during pregnancy. Your doctor should explain if there are any unusual risks during pregnancy, and why they feel the benefit justifies your taking the medicine. Overall, in order to follow the safest course for both you and your baby, you may be asked to put up with minor ailments during your pregnancy that would normally be treatable. But do talk through everything about your health to allow health care professionals help you find the right course of action for you, even if that is to put with it for now. |
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