Real Frisco

Frisco ObGyn Doctor shares insight on Medications & Foods during Pregnancy

Touching on a few Pregnancy FAQ ...

At times I get patients requesting a list of what medications are considered safe during their pregnancy. Obviously the safest medication would be 'no medication'. Just suck it up when you feel like you are dying from your cold during pregnancy even though it will be ten times worse and last longer than the rest of the family's cold. This is attributed to the fact that your immune system is naturally suppressed when you are pregnant.

Realistically, there is only one group of medications that can cause a serious problem for your baby if you take it consistently during your pregnancy. That group is Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDS) which can cause kidney damage (i.e. Ibuprofen, Naproxen or any branded version of these medications). Most cold medication does not contain these medications, just Tylenol, which is fine.

Making a list of medications you can take has been futile over the last 13 years because we cannot list all of the hundred + cold medications at Wal-Mart. None of these are going to cause birth defects when taken in moderation.

As far as antacids and gas medication, just know this, Magnesium containing liquids (i.e. Milk of Magnesia) can cause diarrhea, mixed Magnesium and Aluminum products usually keep you regular and Aluminum containing medications cause constipation. Anti-gas medications are fine (i.e. Gas-X).

As far as food, the main thing to avoid is raw fish and meat as these contain bacteria and parasites that can make you ill. Three cans of tuna per week are not good, apparently because of potential Mercury levels.

If your reflux/heartburn does not respond to dietary changes then start with Tums (the calcium is good for the baby) if this and liquid antacids do not work then prescription Prevacid or other proton pump inhibitors that you need to take daily, almost always work. They take about a week to kick in.

As you can only imagine, there are a myriad of frequently asked questions relating to your pregnancy. Your physician should be willing to answer all of them, no matter how simple they may seem. If you are looking for a Frisco Ob-Gyn doctor that loves caring for his patients and especially delivering babies at Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, please call us or jot me a note on our website FriscoWomensHealth.com or our facebook page!

To your great health!
Dr. Jonathan Weinstein
Baylor Medical Center at Frisco