Is Ethylparaben Safe For Pregnancy
safeHome remedies for strep throat during pregnancy
Precautions To Take When Breastfeeding With Sinus Infection
The following precautions might help in preventing the transmission of sinus infection from the mother to the baby.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before handling the baby and their personal items, such as toys and clothes.
- Keep tissues handy to wipe your nose.
- Use a sanitizer to clean your hands.
- If the baby touches your face with his/her fingers, then clean the babys hands too.
- Do not share the same utensils like the cup, glass, spoon, etc. with the baby.
- Wear a mask while breastfeeding the baby.
- Avoid kissing the baby until you are cured of the infection.
If you notice any symptoms in the baby, then see a pediatrician promptly.
Tips To Consider Before Taking An Otc Drug
- Try nondrug measures. For complaints commonly handled by OTC products, nondrug measures can help alleviate symptoms without the risk. For example, stress busters such as massage, meditation, relaxation exercises, or even a walk around the block, can help with tension headaches. And rest, fluids, and chicken soup are a much safer way for pregnant women to deal with symptoms of a cold than antihistamines and decongestants.
- Consult your healthcare provider. Dont take anything without first discussing it with your practitioner. There are trade-offs with OTC products, Mitchell said. You have to balance your need to take something with any possible risks.
- Avoid combination products. Multi-symptom cold and allergy medications typically contain ingredients from the off-limits list. For example, while Tylenol pain reliever is relatively safe for occasional use during pregnancy, Tylenol Sinus Congestion and Pain and Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom liquid contain the decongestant phenylephrine, which is not.
- Read labels.Ingredients such as alcohol and caffeine turn up in surprising places. For example, Vicks Nyquil Cold & Flu Liquid contains alcohol. And CVS Aspirin-Free Tension Headache, is indeed, free of aspirin, but still contains caffeine.
Recommended Reading: How Much Folic Acid Should I Take Before Pregnancy
Tylenol: An Unexpected Neuroendocrine Disruptor
Acetaminophen . Most people reach for it for everyday headaches like it’s no big deal, and 2/3 of women have used it in pregnancy. Yet acetaminophen is not benign. For example, it is one of the major contributors to liver disease in the US each year. Acetaminophen has also long been considered generally safe for use during all stages of pregnancy, making it the first-choice pain and fever medication for pregnant women. Given the large number of pregnant women using the drug, even a small increase in risk of adverse outcomes in offspring can have important implications for public health.
Tylenol started coming under scrutiny over its safety in pregnancy around 2014. Animal studies suggest that its use in pregnancy can have important implications for endocrine function, which is also important for neurodevelopment as well as normal sexual differentiation.
Zeyan Liew, Ph.D, M.P.H and assistant professor in the Yale School of Public Healths Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and one of the authors of the statement said, It is time to take the growing body of evidence seriously and consider precautionary measures.
It is time to take the growing body of evidence seriously and consider precautionary measures.
What To Do If You Have Sinus Headache During Pregnancy
Hot or cold packs: Hot packs can relieve pain from sinus headaches as well as general muscle aches, while cold packs may work better for tension headaches. Prenatal massage: This form of massage for pregnant people relaxes tight muscles and can lower stress levels, which can be helpful for many pregnancy aches and pains.
- Medicines That Are Safe for Pregnant Women to Take When Sick
When you are pregnant, your immune system doesnt operate at maximum capacity, which is actually a good thing because it keeps your growing baby protected, and stops your body from thinking the fetus is an intruder. However, this comes with the downside that your body cant ward off the viruses that cause the common cold quite as effectively. This can leave you vulnerable to the symptoms that come along, including a congested nose, cough, and sore throat.
As we move into cold and flu season, you may find yourself coming down with a cold, and while you can rest assured that your baby isnt experiencing any of them, you want to get rid of the symptoms quickly and safely. While colds are mostly an uncomfortable annoyance best managed by a little extra rest, fluids, and patience, you may find yourself seeking out cold medications to alleviate your symptoms. We recommend making a so they can steer you in the right direction in terms of cold medications that are considered safe during pregnancy. Here are our own recommendations on what to do if you get sick while pregnant.
Recommended Reading: What Color Is Discharge During Early Pregnancy
Skin Rashes Cuts Scrapes
Rashes and itchy skin can be treated with OTC hydrocortisone cream during pregnancy. But mention these symptoms to your doctor to rule out conditions like pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy . You doctor may prescribe steroidal creams for certain conditions.
For cuts and scrapes, clean the area well with soap and water. You may then apply an OTC antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin, for added protection.
Recommended Reading: Why Do Sinus Infections Happen
Can I Take Medications Like Aleve While Pregnant
Aleve belongs to the group of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . They include ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen .
Just like Tylenol, theyre used for pain relief during pregnancy. However, the FDA recommended that you avoid taking them after your first trimester .
Continuous use of these medications can cause kidney problems in the baby and may reduce the level of amniotic fluids. Amniotic fluid is vital during pregnancy because it acts as a shock absorber for the baby and also as nutrients banks.
Although for the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, there are no clear effects on the mother and the baby. While some studies assume that it increases the risk of miscarriages and birth defects, the majority of research says otherwise. Nonetheless If you must take NSAID medications, make sure it is at the recommendation of your physician.
Also Check: Can You Get Pregnant With An Expired Iud
When Do Pregnancy Headaches Go Away
They usually improve as your pregnancy goes on. They do not harm your baby, but they can be uncomfortable for you. A headache can sometimes be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, which can lead to serious complications if its not monitored and treated. Pre-eclampsia usually starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Treatment Options During Pregnancy
Certain medications used for migraine treatment and prevention are contraindicated for pregnancy, due to safety concerns for the developing fetus. For patients who use oral contraceptives to regulate their hormone levels and manage migraine, having a conversation about migraine treatment options may happen when they want to go off of birth control and start trying to conceive. The good news is there are safe options for migraine prior to and during pregnancy.
Im always telling my patients, either preconception or patients that are pregnant, that we recommend in general to use the number of different medications for anything that were treating, Dr. Grossman says. And also, of course, the lowest dose possible that we can use in pregnancy and preconception is what we recommend. Her first-line treatment is non-medication options, and she then layers in other treatments as needed.
Read Also: Migraine Medicine That Causes Weight Loss
Recommended Reading: When To Expect Pregnancy Symptoms
What Foods Should I Avoid
You should have at least three well-balanced meals every day. In general, you should eat foods that are clean and well-cooked. Avoid:
- raw meat, such as sushi
- undercooked beef, pork, or chicken, including hot dogs
- unpasteurized milk or cheeses
- undercooked eggs
- improperly washed fruits and vegetables
Foods or beverages containing aspartame, or NutraSweet, are safe in moderation , if you dont have a disease called phenylketonuria.
Some women develop a condition known as pica, giving them unusual urges to eat chalk, clay, talcum powder, or crayons. Discuss these cravings with your doctor and avoid these substances.
If you have diabetes or are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, you should follow the American Diabetes Association diet, and avoid fruits, juices, and high-carbohydrate snacks, like candy bars, cakes, cookies, and sodas.
Does Tylenol Cause Adhd In Pregnancy
Again, we cant say definitely yes or no as to whether taking Tylenol while pregnant can cause ADHD in babies.
This recent study suggests that there is a link between prenatal and perinatal acetaminophen exposure and childhood neurodevelopmental risk, but that they need additional investigations to give a definite answer.
Read Also: What To Expect At 2 Months Pregnant
How To Safely Take Antibiotics In Pregnancy
The best way to take your antibiotics is to follow your doctors instructions. Because antibiotics have been used too much in the past, your doctor might be careful about what they give you.
Your doctor will choose the best type for you. They might think about other factors before giving you antibiotics. These might include:
- Avoiding antibiotics in the first trimester
- Testing to confirm the type of infection
- Giving the smallest dose possible
- Giving antibiotics for the shortest time possible
- Using only one type of antibiotic
- Only giving antibiotics when necessary
Antibiotics can interact with other medications or over-the-counter drugs. Your doctor might tell you not to take antibiotics with any other medicine.
Take as directed. Sometimes when you take antibiotics you start to feel better right away. Its important to take your medicine until its finished and the way your doctor says. This might help stop the bacteria from becoming resistant to the medicine.
Use other safe remedies. If you have a common cold or other minor conditions, your doctor likely wont give you antibiotics. Instead, ask about other over-the-counter medicine that is safe for you to take when youre pregnant. Other self-care practices for the common cold might be helpful, including:
- Saline nasal spray
- Warm salt water gargle
If you dont get better or you have new symptoms, make sure to talk to your doctor to rule out more serious conditions.
Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome
Headache caused by RCVS syndrome is severe and diffuse and typically of the thunderclap type, recurring over 12 weeks, often triggered by sexual activity, exertion, Valsalva manoeuvres and/or emotion . Headache is often the only symptom of RCVS, but the condition can be associated with fluctuating focal neurological deficits and sometimes seizures.
RCVS is commonly associated with the post-partum period, usually within a week after delivery: its severe thunderclap headache usually relapses within a few days, resolving by approximately twelve weeks after clinical onset . The typical differential diagnosis is cerebral vasculitis, which needs to be ruled out due to the course of the disease and different treatment options.
Recommended Reading: One Side Headache And Ear Pain
You May Like: What Are The Chances Of Me Being Pregnant
What Are The Different Types Of Headaches
The headaches youre suffering from while pregnant are just like the ones you can get at any other time, so its worth learning about some of the most common types. Heres a short primer to help you figure out what kind of headache you might have:
- Tension headaches: If youre under stress, hungry or feel pain in your neck or shoulders, you could have a tension headache, which feels like a mild to moderate dull ache. Its one of the most common types.
- Migraines: With a migraine headache, you can expect moderate to severe pain that throbs and lasts for hours or even days. Some women with migraines also experience blurred vision, light flashes, numbness and nausea.
- Sinus headaches: Pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead plus a stuffy nose may signal a sinus headache. These typically occur with a sinus infection, but theyre also commonly confused with migraines. In both cases, the pain can get worse when you bend forward or lie down.
- Cluster headaches: These head pains are what they sound like headaches upon headaches that start quickly and get worse, lasting for days or longer. The searing pain usually centers on one eye or affects one side of the head. The good news: Cluster headaches are rare, especially in women compared to men.
- Chronic headaches: If youre getting headaches on more than half of the days in any given month, they could be considered chronic. This includes migraines and other headache types chronic just refers to how frequently they happen.
What Is A Sinus Infection
Sinus infections are a type of infection that occurs when the nasal cavities become inflamed, swollen, and infected. While viruses are the most common cause of sinusitis, sinus infection causes also include bacteria and fungi.
Sinusitis is classified based on its duration and cause. The two types of sinus infection include:
- Acute sinusitis is a temporary inflammation of the sinuses, and most often follows a cold or allergies. With a compromised immune system, women may develop new allergies and get sick more often during pregnancy. During a bout of acute sinusitis, swelling blocks the sinus openings and prevents normal mucus drainage. This causes mucus and pressure to build up. Symptoms usually worsen, then peak and disappear.
- Chronic sinusitis occurs when the symptoms of sinusitis last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Unlike acute sinusitis, symptoms may come and go and vary in intensity. Continued symptoms will strain the immune system, which is important to avoid if youre pregnant and the immune system is weak as it is.
A combination of antibiotics, antihistamines, and decongestants is used to fight chronic sinusitis, although many of these medications may not be safe if you are pregnant. According to Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, M.D. at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, pregnant women should avoid taking unnecessary drugs during pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: Why Am I Getting Sinus Headaches Everyday
You May Like: How To Help Early Pregnancy Cramps
Professional Medical Societies Response
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says its guidance on acetaminophen use during pregnancy remains the same: Using acetaminophen is safe during pregnancy after talking with your provider because there is no clear evidence of a direct relationship between acetaminophen and irregular fetal development.
ACOGs to the consensus statement also noted concern about the lack of options for safe pain relievers for pregnant patients.
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has not issued a direct response to the statement. But in 2017, its Publications Committee of articles relating to neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially ADHD, in children exposed in utero to acetaminophen. They agreed there was insufficient evidence of a causal relationship between these disorders and prenatal acetaminophen exposure.
Related reading:BOTOX for migraines, and more pregnancy-safe treatment options
Effects On The Reproductive Tract Of Unborn Males
Studies suggest that using Tylenol for pain relief during pregnancy alters the development of the male reproductive organs. These effects can change the anatomical structures of the male genitalia completely. Although it isnt often rare, the effects can be of great risk later in their life.
One of the most important factors here is that the risk is different for all trimesters. Timing the use of Tylenol during pregnancy will help curtail the possibilities of these risks.
The risks are low or not at all when Tylenol is used during the early stage of the first trimester. Whereas, late in the first trimester and early second trimester, the effect becomes greater.
This is because this period is when the reproductive organs develop. Using Tylenol in third trimester may be said to have no health problems on the babys development.
Don’t Miss: What Can You Use For Back Pain While Pregnant
Can You Have A Baby Bump At 6 Weeks
Can you have a baby bump at 6 weeks? A baby bump is not typically visible at 6 weeks. A perceived baby bump may be attributed to bloating. As pregnancy progresses, the uterus grows and expands to make room for a baby, but at 6 weeks this growth is usually only seen by a medical professional during an ultrasound.
Is It A Cold Or The Flu
The best way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is to take account of the typical symptoms.
- A cold is milder than the flu. Its symptoms come on gradually and typically you only run a low-grade to no fever. It generally starts off with a sore throat that goes away after a day or two, a cold ends with the main symptoms of a runny nose and cough.
- Influenza, commonly called the flu, is more severe and the onset is more sudden than a cold. Symptoms include a high fever , headache, chills, a sore throat that typically worsens by the second or third day, intense muscle soreness, and a general feeling of weakness and fatigue. These symptoms, along with sneezing and a cough, can last a couple of weeks or longer.
Don’t Miss: Can Being Pregnant Cause Diarrhea
What Should Patients Do
At UT Southwestern, we recommend that pregnant patients continue to use acetaminophen as medically necessary. Potential side effects might depend on the dosage amounts, so short-term use is generally safer than long-term use.
Reduce the use of multi-symptom treatments for cold and flu, and take only the type of medication you need. For example, if you dont have a fever but you have a stuffy nose, take an antihistamine only not a combination drug with fever-reducing acetaminophen.
To manage long-term pain, discuss alternative therapies with your provider. From acupuncture to yoga, some non-drug treatments can provide safe chronic pain relief during pregnancy.
Related reading:8 third trimester pains and how to deal with them
Before taking medication for any type of pain, discuss it with your doctor to ensure youre on the same page and making well-informed decisions. Our Ob/Gyn team is on top of the latest research and only recommends treatment or medication considered safe for both you and your baby.
To visit with an Ob/Gyn about pain relief options during pregnancy, call orrequest an appointment online.
