Do you take any pharmaceuticals?

MidwestSeashell · June 2012

I'm curious as to how many women who are planning (or have had) an unmedicated birth also choose to forgo pharmaceuticals or over the counter drugs in their daily lives. Does your choice to have an unmedicated birth stand alone or is it part of a bigger lifestyle?

sschwege · June 2012

I'm kind of a 'less is more' person in general but particularly while I'm pregnant. I have yet to take anything. That doesn't mean I won't but I make sure I've exhausted all natural routes before taking medications. For example I had a headache yesterday, so I drank a cup of iced coffee instead of reaching for the pain reliever. Not opposed, just tried something else before going for the 'bigger guns.' Though I know caffeine is not the best thing, still more natural.

vintagejjane · June 2012

My whole pregnancy I took whole food supplements. I chose a more holistic approach to my pre-natal care and do not regret it at all.

Sawyerplus1 · June 2012

I'm generally a "less is more" person with regards to meds. I dont get sick often, but I do try to avoid lots of meds if I can. For headaches I'll try resting, pressure points, tons of water, or coffee, etc before tylenol or advil. If I have a bad cold though I may take something to relieve the symptoms while I sleep, b/c I figure a good nights rest is the best thing for me at that point (obviously not while pregnant or nursing). I think I only took tylenol once during this pregnancy for a headache that just wouldn't let up.

RingOfFire11 · June 2012

I'm not a big medicine person at all. I will take the minimum when necessary. I come from of family that ran to the doctor/meds for everything. I find that I rarely have to go and I believe there's a connection. The OB and the dentist are about the extent of it for me. I chose med-free birth because it was what made the most sense for my lifestyle. I was even more careful during pregnancy.

Jdunk2008 · June 2012

I'm not much for taking meds either.

I realize everyone is different in their views of "natural"

Do any of you take Prenatal Vitamins ??

CTri17 · June 2012

I'm also a less is more person.

I took lots of natural stuff.

I took tylenol if I needed it (but it was more of a last resort)

nosoup4u · June 2012

Hell no, I totally take drugs when needed!

My choice to go med-free isn't a reflection on my choices when not pregnant.

jlh2716 · June 2012

I generally don't, but it totally depends on what my ailment is. I tend to use medications sparingly, but I'm not against using them when there's a true need for it.

MidwestSeashell · June 2012

i dont take anything besides herbs and haven't for the past 7 years. before that i was on BCP and some crazy antibiotics a dermatologist gave me (when I was a teenager). those things screwed my system up royally and i really REALLY try to avoid taking anything unnatural now. i lost faith in western medicine for health. for trauma, i think it's top notch, but for health-i'd rather see and herbalist and an acupunturist.

pixieprincss · June 2012

I use natural tactics and homeopathic remedies as a first line, but sometimes they don't cut it. For example, I take Zantac when my natural tricks don't stop the reflux, as I know that acid is very damaging to the teeth and esophagus. For me, the "try the natural tricks first" strategy applies PG or not.

Mrs.HAW · June 2012

nosoup4u:
Hell no, I totally take drugs when needed!
My choice to go med-free isn't a reflection on my choices when not pregnant.

This! I have no problem taking OTC and prescription drugs. My mom is a nurse so we self-medicate in our family While pregnant I do try to make sure I research the symptoms/drugs and take what is safest for baby.

I had stadol and an epidural with DS, and had some horrible side effects. These are the main reasons I want to go natural this time, not that I'm anti-drug all-around.

mb314 · June 2012

Looks like I'm in the minority here. I am on high blood pressure medicine, so I take that medication every day (I'm not overweight, I work out 4 -5 times a week, eat as healthy as I can, but just have high blood pressure). I also have terrible allergies, that last all year long, and I take a zyrtec every day, even during pregnancy. On those days that I've tried not taking one, I've gotten horrible allergies and I felt like the being unable to breathe and sneezing constantly wan't good for the baby. I also use an inhaler when I need it for asthma. I've tried not to take tylenol, but have two or three times when I've had a fever or horrible headache. And I've taken gas X and tums for stomach issues.

I guess my desire to give birth naturally isn't because I am a naturally wholistic health type of person. I just don't think birth is one of those things that typically needs a ton medicine and I don't like the attitude that so many doctors and hospitals push you towards medication/intervention in order to make their lives easier. I like the idea of an easier recovery because of a natural birth.

BLuvsE · June 2012

I have to be pretty sick to want medicine. I don't even like to take Tylenol. I'd rather heal myself with food.

I had this really terrible pain in my side and the doctors kept giving me medicine, etc but could never figure out what was really wrong. I did a partial fast for 21 days (fruits and veggies and water only) and haven't had any problems since. I didn't like doctors before, but that was the nail in the proverbial coffin. I don't think doctors are helpful unless it's an emergency.

ETA - I take prenatals and take vitamins regularly when not pregnant. The ones I take are made from plant material ONLY - nothing else in them, so I consider them to be food in pill form. (They literally harvest the plant, crush it up, dehydrate it to a powder, and mix it with some other 'sticky' plant material to make tablets.)

tokenhoser · June 2012

Well, I have a thyroid condition that requires medication. Without it, I may have miscarried or brain damaged my child.

I also use painkillers when I have a headache (tylenol when pg, advil now), take my prenatal vitamins, and generally don't suffer if I have a problem. I took antihistamines for the end of my pregnancy and early weeks of bfing.

Believing in evidence-based medicine led me to seek appropriate care for a medical condition (hypothyroidism) and led me to a med-free birth.

VABride2008 · June 2012

I'm not against pharmaceuticals but I rarely take anything. I can't remember the last time I went to the doctor for an antibiotic and whenever I buy Advil/Tylenol it usually expires before I use the bottle. I can usually get better with at home remedies.

judahsmommy1 · June 2012

tokenhoser:
Believing in evidence-based medicine led me to seek appropriate care for a medical condition and led me to a med-free birth.

This. I currently take a very low dose of an anti depressant to help me with depression and anxiety. I was able to get through my first trimester and about half of my second trimester without it, but it became obvious that I needed some help. Just like with medications, there are appropriate and inappropriate times to use interventions. My focus is more on using them appropriately than avoiding them all together.

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