Medication and Conceiving
The first step to conceiving is going to be to stop taking the pill! :-)
Once that is covered you can review any other medication you are taking to examine the potential effects it may or may not have on you and your chances of conceiving as well as on your unborn child if you are already pregnant. Anything you take has the potential to cross over to your baby via the placenta so take extra care with all medications during pregnancy.
Medications that are considered to be safe to take before and during pregnancy include prenatal vitamins and certain home remedies, as well as;
Benadryl - Tylenol - Sudafed - Vicks Cough Syrup - Milk of Magnesia - Senekot - Gaviscon - Witch Hazel - Hydrocortisone - Tums
Generally it is best to avoid any over the counter medications once you are pregnant as while many may be safe, many of the potential effects may still be unknown. NSAIDs for example, should be avoided during pregnancy. This group of drugs includes medications that contain ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen.
During pregnancy you should avoid the following;
Gingseng - Licorice - St. John's Wort - Senna -
Also take care with medications containing pseudoefedrine and phenylephrine which are decongestants and often found in cold and flu medications as the data on how they may affect you and your unborn baby are not decisive.
If you tend to suffer from any minor ailments such as headaches or general aches and pains, pregnancy may be the best time for you to investigate other ways of coping or reducing the pain instead of taking pills. Headaches for example may feel reduced after sitting in a darkened room or through acupressure or massage. You could also try heat treatments for aches and pains such as a hot water bottle but also remember to use it wisely around your bump to be on the safe side. Many pregnant women suffer from heartburn and this can be helped by eating smaller meals, avoiding those foods you know will aggravate your heartburn or taking an antacid such as Tums which are generally considered to be ok to take when pregnant.
Once you are pregnant, if you take any regular medication for conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes or depression you should find out whether your particular course of medication needs to be adjusted in any way. It may be that in particular cases, the benefits of continuing with a certain medication outweigh the possible adverse effects. This is also something you can ask your doctor about prior to conceiving. You should also let your doctor know about your pregnancy before being prescribed any new medication.
If you are unsure in any way, make sure you consult your doctor. Every pregnancy is different and your medication is unique to you.
Return to the main Preconception page or read more on Preconception Contraception or My Fertile Period
