General Health Information

  1. It is best if you do not use any medications during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, unless recommended for a specific condition. It is a general rule that medications should be avoided during pregnancy unless indicated but, if a specific condition develops, there are a number of medications that have been widely used for years and have been demonstrated to have a wide margin of safety.
  2. Take your prenatal vitamins daily, about two hours after eating with water or 100% fruit juice. Do not take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. If you are unable to find a prenatal vitamin that you can tolerate, take two children's chewable vitamins as a substitute (together or separately as with a prenatal vitamin: two hours after eating with water or 100% fruit juice).
  3. We recommend that you decrease your intake of caffeinated drinks to two servings per day (including coffee, teas, and colas with caffeine) during pregnancy. If you are a heavy user, decrease gradually to prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches.
  4. Avoid alcohol. There is no amount that is considered safe.
  5. Nausea and vomiting are common in early pregnancy. Try the suggestions listed on the "Tips for Morning Sickness" information sheet. If nothing stays in your stomach for greater than forty-eight (48) hours after following the information sheet's recommendations, call the triage nurse or provider on call.
  6. If you get a minor illness, such as a cold, runny nose, mild sore throat, slight fever (temperature under 100.4°, which lasts less than 3 days) chills, muscle aches or headache, the medications below can be used.
  7. If a fever (temperature of 100.4° or greater) develops, take extra strength Tylenol (two pills every three to four hours) to keep your temperature less than 100.4°.

Cold, Hayfever, & Congestion

  • Follow the directions on the package and do not exceed the recommended dose
  • Any products in the following families of drugs:
    • Tylenol (e.g., Tylenol Severe Cold and Sinus)
    • Benadryl
    • Robitussin
    • Sudafed
    • Actifed
    • Triaminic
    • Chlor-Trimeton
    • Claritin
  • Other comfort measures for colds include:
    • Salt water nasal drops
    • warm, wet compress to your sinus area to help them open and draining
    • keep room heat on a lower setting - it helps keep the air from being too dry
    • a vaporizer or humidifier can help keep moisture in the air; sleep on extra pillows to keep your head elevated
    • be sure to drink lots of fluids, such as, 100% fruit juices and water to help keep you will hydrated

Coughs

The only active ingredient found to be effective in over-the-counter cough medicines is "DM" (dexatromethoraphan), e.g., Robitussin DM

Sore Throat

  • Chloraseptic spray
  • Warm salt water gargles
  • Throat lozenges

Diarrhea

  • Avoid foods containing milk products and caffeine
  • Kaopectate (although has not been shown to be as effective as Imodium)
  • Imodium AD

Constipation

  • Fibercon
  • Metamucil
  • Citrucel
  • Colace 100mg tablets twice a day
  • Unrefined bran 1-2 teaspoons twice daily
  • Uncle Sam's cereal works
  • Milk of Magnesia or a Fleets enema at bedtime if condition unresolved by other methods

Hemorrhoids

  • Tucks – may want to keep them cool in refrigerator for increased pain relief
  • Anusol HC cream and suppositories
  • Ice packs

Heartburn &Gas

  • Liquid remedies work more effectively for rapid relief than do tablets
  • Products containing simethicone
  • Tums
  • Mylanta Complete
  • Maalox Max
  • Papaya
  • Riopan
  • Pepcid AC
  • Pepcid Complete
  • Zantac

Fever, Muscle Aches and Headaches

  • Tylenol-Regular Strength - 2 tablets every 4-6 hours
  • Tylenol – Extra Strength - 2 tablets every 4-6 hours

Avoid:

  • aspirin products
  • ibuprofen products, such as, Advil, Nuprin and Motrin IB
  • naproxen products, such as, Aleve or Anaprox during pregnancy, unless directed to take by your provider