Pregnancy and Medication

During the period of pregnancy some medication are used which are vital to the general wellbeing of the mother and the growth of the baby. Here are some medications used and why they are used.

1. Folic Acid (Prenatal Vitamin)

Folic acid helps the mother’s body to develop healthy red blood cells, it again prevents central nervous system disorders in the growing baby like neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida) and supports the growing baby's brain development.

1. Iron Supplements

Iron just like Folic acid helps in the development of healthy red blood cells. Iron helps to prevents and treats anemia, which is a common happening in pregnancy due to the increase in the blood volume and not the cells.

1. Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium and Vitamin D as we already know helps in building strong bones and teeth and that's what it does in pregnancy too. It supports the growing baby's bone and teeth development and prevents osteoporosis from developing in the mother.

1. Rh Immunoglobulin (Rhogam)

Rhogam is a very important medication that is given to rhesus negative mothers carrying rehsus positive babies. This is because there is Rhesus incompatibility in Rh-negative mothers carrying Rh-positive babies, so giving the Rhogam prevents the mother from developing antibodies against the baby resulting in hemolytic disease of the newborn and death of babies from subsequent pregnancy.

1. Antimalarials (e.g., Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, Quinine, Artemether-Lumefantrine)

Antimalarials as always prevent and treat malaria. SP is used as a prophylaxis to prevents and treats malaria. This is because getting malaria in pregnancy can result in miscarriage, anemia, and fetal complications. Intermittent preventive treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (used from 2nd trimesterupwards) is given in malaria-endemic regions to prevent the complications that can develop with it.

1. Antihelminthics (e.g., Albendazole, Mebendazole, Ivermectin - in the 2nd & 3rd trimester only)

Antihelminthics are medications used to treat worm infestations such as hookworm. These parasitic worms cause anemia, malnutrition, and poor outcomes in pregnancy. Using Albendazole or Mebendazole in areas endemic to these worms is essential.

All medication are prescribed based on the patients needs and also the trimester they are in. Consult your doctor before use and don't just take any medication as it could be detrimental to the development of the baby.
Many more are given and used in pregnancy we will cover them in later discussion.
Thank you

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