I feel so mislead about pregnancy safe medications...I just want to cry

esmith10 · June 2014

So I read that article on TB today about OTC meds that are safe for pregnancy. I thought it would be old news, and for the most part it was, until I came across the suggestion to avoid Sudafed. Sudafed was on the list of ok meds to take from my OB, and I can't remember if I took some when I had a horrible sinus infection at the beginning of the pregnancy (I think I did). I remember my doc specifically saying it was okay.

Then I couldn't get the thought out of my head, so I googled if fluticasone nasal spray, which I use for my allergies, is safe and it turns out that is not recommend for pregnancy, too! Again, I specifically asked about this and my doctor said it was perfectly safe during pregnancy but now I'm reading about birth defects like cleft palate, omphalocele, and other horrific things when it was tested in rodents. Its says that it should be used only in pregnancy when the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. Nothing is worth putting my kid up to these risks. I'm just so pissed!! I've been hyper-conscience about every food I put in my body, switched to all organic beauty products, and THOUGHT I studied everything I needed to know about what I should and should not put in my body. Now, this thing that I was specifically told was okay may be super dangerous. I'm so upset, someone please talk me off the ledge and tell me its going to be okay.

cashews29 · June 2014

Don't freak out. Trust your OB over what The Bump says. The Bump also likes to send out emails about how your dog will eat your baby.

Trust your MD over TB every time.

rockyrollgirl · June 2014

Listen to and bring up any concerns to your doctor.... not The Bump.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

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cashews29 · June 2014

YoginiKiki said:

There is another article that they wrote called "How to tell if your baby likes you"

Seriously.

Right. Because they haven't made us paranoid enough when we were pregnant. Now we have to worry about whether our progeny even likes us.

No wonder parenting is such damn stressful.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

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cashews29 · June 2014

If I did everything the internet said about being the best incubator for my baby, I would have been on bedrest since the positive pee stick surviving off of light and air and happy thoughts.

Jolaine83 · June 2014

Google is not a safe resource. I would only trust a real medical site (with a grain of salt) at the same level i trust my doctor's opinion. And even that, I would discuss it with my doctor rather than just assume an impersonal website has my best interest at heart - better than my OB does.

Sudafed is safe after 1st trimester. I take it once in a while because life without it is miserable sometimes. The only time it's not suggested when needed past 1st tri is if you are dealing with high blood pressure - that is because if you are running high, it can make you running higher bp wise while it's in your system.

The nasal spray is not one I am familiar with, but I have permission to take singulair even though it's a Cat C drug. I will start taking it mid summer to combat my allergies because otherwise i will end up with bad enough allergy symptoms that my health will be compromised. I've ended up very sick by not treating it, so that's why that benefit outweighs the risk.

This is why you have an OB for guidance rather than just self treating off the internet. They have tools and years of education backing out their decisions that we don't have. If you don't trust your OB, than get an second opinion and maybe consider changing doctors because you should be going to someone whose opinion you trust.

Amandanmoen · June 2014

Drugs are such a tricky one because at the end if the day, it's just not ethical to ever properly test them on real pregnant women! Because of that, a lot of drugs get classified as B or C not because there is evidence that they are dangerous, but simply from lack of absolute 100% evidence that they are safe. My take on it is, check everything out with your doctor. If you can avoid taking meds, avoid it but if your doc has given the ok and you just can't handle the discomfort any more (even if it's just that day) take something! Get some relief and see if you can go med free tomorrow!

shevaCC · June 2014

Amandanmoen said:

Drugs are such a tricky one because at the end if the day, it's just not ethical to ever properly test them on real pregnant women! Because of that, a lot of drugs get classified as B or C not because there is evidence that they are dangerous, but simply from lack of absolute 100% evidence that they are safe. My take on it is, check everything out with your doctor. If you can avoid taking meds, avoid it but if your doc has given the ok and you just can't handle the discomfort any more (even if it's just that day) take something! Get some relief and see if you can go med free tomorrow!

This is where I'm at too. All Cat A, B, and C drugs are "approved" for use in pregnant women with various counterindications. Trust your doctor and take a deep breath...it will all be ok!

alphaxi614 · June 2014

OP as others have said trust your doctor over the Bump. Your Dr. went to medical school after all.

If it helps I took sudafed a few weeks ago when I had a bad head cold. My Dr. not only OK'd it, but so did my friend who is an L&D nurse and has 6 kids took it through all 6 of her pregnancies and all her kids are fine.

So no need to stress, you're doing great!

tamarar5 · June 2014

I get where you are coming from, but your Dr and pharmacy wouldn't give you a drug that wasn't OK during pregnancy. When I had strep a few weeks ago (AGAIN) my Dr prescribed the super strong drug — I forgot what it was called — and my pharmacy called me to point out that it wasn't recommended during pregnancy. He then contacted the Dr about changing the script to something approved.

And I live in a busy city, so this wasn't just a small town, know all your neighbors pharmacist thing.

Best I can recommend is to take a deep breath and relax. If you are really concerned, stop taking them now. But there is nothing you can do about the past.

jmathi0149 · June 2014

So I accidentally took a Cat C allergy medicine that had been expired for three years. I told my doctor and he laughed. He has been in practice over 20 years and said he has seen it all. These babies we are growing really are resilient to a lot of things. As long as you haven't abused anything during pregnancy you will probably be fine.

To be completely honest I don't worry too much about anything. I have a close friend who went super clean, natural, and organic during pregnancy. Every fabric and soap that touched her body... She even refused to use the microwave. I swear her child is allergic to EVERYTHING under the sun.

Just listen to your doctor and try to relax.

Edit: formatting...damn mobile.

cashews29 · June 2014

I find it interesting the the OP ran in here having a panic attack and has yet to respond...

esmith10 · June 2014

Thanks, all. I feel compelled to say that of course I'm planning to voice these concerns with my doctor, and I don't trust everything I read on the internet. I posted this question, because I wanted to see if others have taken these drugs and whether or not they had any effect on their babies. I just found it alarming that in one day I've found studies (obvi from more credible sources than TB, although the article sparked my curiosity) that indicate not one, but two drugs I specifically asked about aren't as safe as I was lead to believe. I'm seeing a new doc tomorrow (unrelated reasons for switching) so we'll see what they say...

esmith10 · June 2014

Nice, @cashews29‌.

cashews29 · June 2014

Ha, I spoke too soon.

Rannndi · June 2014

At my first specialist appointment, my doctor's first bit of advice was not to consult Dr. Google.

kcatboston · June 2014

I just got back from the doctor because I have a sinus infection and both the midwife and the doctor reassured me that Sudafed is absolutely fine.

Jolaine83 · June 2014

YoginiKiki said:

LoisLayn23 said:

Selfie says that being in direct sunlight and using your phone and having stress causes your baby to be geigh.

For anyone unaware, there was a one time poster, now semi well known blogger that was deemed 'Selfie' due to the massive amount of selfies she took before they were cool. She hit the bump and quickly ticked off masses of people by her theories of just how many things risked the life of her unborn child. Things like gardening, leaving the house to see friends, etc. She then became a target for lots of anger when she talked about 'research' that suggested that anxiety/stress in the mom could create chromosomal changes in the unborn fetus that would make him or her gay. Her stint on here was short but her blog will forever be laughed at by many many people. It was a very hot topic for a very long time.

Any other bump old timers remember her blog address? I'm sure a few of these ladies would love her tips on what to pack for the hospital...

Jolaine83 · June 2014

Rannndi said:

At my first specialist appointment, my doctor's first bit of advice was not to consult Dr. Google.

Dr Google convinced me I had a parasite living inside of me. Turns out, he (she? it?) was right.

sharkmama39 · June 2014

I saw this article as well and at first I was like what?! Sudafed isn't safe?! And then I took a second and thought, yeah my dr who studied medicine specific to pregnancy wouldn't tell me something was safe to take unless it was.

KittyMisha · June 2014

For myself, I check the pregnancy category of every drug my doc says is ok, and if it's category C I give serious consideration to how badly exactly I need the drug vs. living with the illness. I decided not to take Sudafed when I had a cold because it wasn't that severe and I felt it wasn't worth the risk, but if I had been extremely sick I probably would have made a different decision.

I must admit, though, I think it's pretty funny that marijuana and Sudafed are in the same pregnancy category.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

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KittyMisha · June 2014

ThoseThreeWords said:

KittyMisha said:

For myself, I check the pregnancy category of every drug my doc says is ok, and if it's category C I give serious consideration to how badly exactly I need the drug vs. living with the illness. I decided not to take Sudafed when I had a cold because it wasn't that severe and I felt it wasn't worth the risk, but if I had been extremely sick I probably would have made a different decision.

I must admit, though, I think it's pretty funny that marijuana and Sudafed are in the same pregnancy category.

The FDA determines the pregnancy categories for approved drugs. Marijuana is not an approved drug, so it does not have a pregnancy category.

You're right, marijuana itself does not have a pregnancy category. But Marinol, an FDA-approved synthetic THC medication, is pregnancy category C. I should have been more specific.

kcatboston · June 2014

@Jolaine83‌ I thought of her when somebody mentioned living on air & happy thoughts. Didn't she plan on basically avoiding everybody/ everything the whole pregnancy.

Jolaine83 · June 2014

kcatboston said:

@Jolaine83‌ I thought of her when somebody mentioned living on air & happy thoughts. Didn't she plan on basically avoiding everybody/ everything the whole pregnancy.

Yup, she was going to avoid all unnecessary outings to avoid stress. All that stress could potentially bring out 'the gay' in her unborn child...

shugirl76 · June 2014

Don't worry. I take several category C's as well as occasional Sudafed. My doctor specifically told me not to look at stuff on the internet, that she can show me medical studies. Taking care of mama is really important. If I am not well, I can't exercise, sleep, or eat right. MD said drinking water, staying active, and eating right are so much more important than any meds that are Category C.

nyagoc · June 2014

I wouldn't freak out. When I had my 18 week ultrasound they checked for various birth defects. I'm sure if something were to come up, they would have noticed it by now.

BabyM82714 · June 2014

I have taken anything but Tylenol. Except I did rub icy hot on my neck religiously 2-3 times a day for probably 3 days when I slept wrong. As a old athlete its a habit. I didn't even think about it at all then Dr. Goggle told me I probably shouldn't have. Oops. But my neck hurt. And icy hot helped. No shame.

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I feel so mislead about pregnancy safe medications...I just want to cry

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