DRUG USE APPLICATION FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN

Knowledge and Application of Drug use for a pregnant woman

Knowledge and Application of Drug use for a pregnant woman

Introduction

Benchmark statement is: to demonstrate knowledge and application regarding drug use in the antenatal, interruption and postnatal period including effects on breastfeeding.' Bench mark can demonstrate knowledge and application of drugs that a midwife can legally supply and/or administer under midwives exemption. This article involves the implications of medicines for women during pregnancy, labor, and postnatal period. Most common drugs are discussed that are contraindicated if the woman is breastfeeding. It also includes a comparison and contrast of PGDs with midwifery exemption drugs.

Discussion

Implication of medicines for pregnant and breastfeeding women

For a pregnant woman and women going through the postnatal period, it is very important to consider the implication of medicines. When a woman is going through a period of pregnancy or postnatal period, she must live a healthy life by eating healthy foods, taking plenty of rest, and doing exercise on regular basis. Anything that might cause harm to her and her upcoming baby must be avoided vitally. The use of drugs which include alcohol, cigarettes and cocaine must completely be give up during her period of pregnancy and postnatal. The use of drugs can really be harmful to her. This may cause harm to her along with his baby. Use of some drugs can also lead to impair parental development.

Apart from drugs, some medicines can also harm a woman during her period of pregnancy and postnatal period. However, those medicines which are prescribed by the doctor can be taken precisely as advised by the doctor. Excessive use of any medicine like medicines for headache or medicines to cure depression can cause great harm to a woman during pregnancy and postnatal period. All such medicines should be used after taking advice from the doctor. If new medicines are prescribed during the period of pregnancy and postnatal period, it is important to consider that the doctor or health care person who is responsible to prescribe the medicine must know about the period of pregnancy.

The medicines which can be used during the period of pregnancy and postnatal period may include allergy medicines like Benadryl, Claritin; cold and flu medicines like Tylenol, saline spray or saline nasal drops, warm salt; constipation medicines like Colace, Metamucil; and first Aid ointment medicines like Bacitracin, Neosporin. All above mentioned medicines are considered to be safe during the period of pregnancy and postnatal period.

Prenatal vitamins are also considered as safe medicines for a woman during the period of pregnancy. However, it is quite noticeable that no drug can be 100% safe. Medicines must be used as per case of an individual upon the prescription from the doctor or health care professionals. Any other use of herbal medicines and use of supplements must be considered upon the prescription of a doctor. All the herbal and supplementary medicines are not found to be safe during the period of ...