Question About Medication Taken During Pregnanvy

Try not to worry (easy for me to say, right). Since Robitussin is so mild, I doubt it had any negative effects.

On baby movement: You do not need to feel a baby moving until 28wk and it is uncommon to feel anything before about 18wk. 12 wk is basically impossible due to the size of the fetus.

On medication in pregnancy: We have to say that almost all are unsafe because none is tested in pregnant women. The only truly safe OTC med is tylenol. Even sudafed and other cold medications have been linked to some problems. It's also true that in studies OTC meds have not helped anyone get over a cold faster and the best treatments are safe in pregnancy - fluids, rest, chicken soup, etc.

You will be fine.

Hi V., this won't be a P.C. answer but this is my story. I threw up for 9 months with my first pregancy, had the flu twice and 5 colds. I also had a horrible hacking cough for the last five months that would make me throw up (like I needed any help with that). I have a high tolerance for pain meds so I occasionally take and keep a supply of hydracodon cough med. It is a very strong prescription cough med. I took it several times (without my doctor's OK) while I was pregnant just so I could sleep for a little while. My "baby boy" is now 12 years old, 5'9", size 13 men's shoe and gifted (also lazy, but he got that from me). Doctors always advise pregnant women to take the least amount of the mildest meds because there are no med studies done on pregnant women. Use moderation in all things and you and the baby will be fine.

Hi V.,
Its too early to start worring about a baby's movement. Normally at 12 weeks the fetus is so so small that what you were feeling were flutters from the amniotic fluids and not the baby moving, and any medication you take now unless something really harsh shouldnt affect the baby in any way and especially if your doctor gives you the okay. I believe your fine. Baby's at this stage are not moving like you think in the first place and its just the fluids in your stomach.
Good luck
M. Azu

V.,
If you have problems swallowing, you could have strep throat, and should be checked right away.
It is much better to take care of an infection right away, than to drag it out, and you might get sicker.
You can go to your regular Family doctor for this too, they also know what medicines are ok during a pregnancy.
But if you are worried about the baby, go in to your OB and request an ultrasound. It's most likely fine, like others have said, it's quite early yet to feel the baby, but just to keep yourself sane, it can't hurt to check it out!

E.

V.,
sorry you're sick! I caught a cold while I was pregnant and was home sick for a week - it was miserable!
I think that as long as your OB clears you for taking a drug, you're okay to take it. Just take as little as you can.

If you are concerned, call your OB. However, the baby is effected by what mom ingests, so chances are it's just snoozing. If you have something really sugary it will get the baby moving.

First I'd like to say congratulations on your pregnancy and secondly ask "had you really felt the baby move already although only 12 weeks pregnant?" It is quite unusual to feel fetal movement at this gestational age. I say this to try to reasure your decision to take the Robitussin and not to patronise you. If in doubt, you can always see your OB and ask for an ultrasound for reassurance to 'see' cardiac movement.

It's okay to take it I promise! I totally felt the same way as you when I got sick while being prego. I took Robitussin like my Dr reccomended and I still had a pefectly healthy baby boy :) It's normal to be concerned about it, welcome to motherhood!

I was sick with a horrible cold for a couple of weeks in the first part of my pregnancy (actually both pregnancies) I am sure your baby is fine! You need to take care of you so your body can take care of your baby! There are things you can do that are non-medicinal to help with your cold. A cup of warm chicken or beef broth or veggie broth if you are vegetarian, a humidifier or vaporizer in your room, gargle with salt water(sounds weird but it helps with the sore throat, saline nose spray (non medicated) like oceanmist helps with a stuffy nose, and of course lots of liquids. Good luck and take care

First, take a deep breath. Getting stressed out about this is not going to help the baby. Second, your doctor wouldn't prescribe anything to you that wasn't okay for the baby. I've taken both over the counter meds (Tylenol) and antibiotics while both pregnant and breastfeeding. (I had chickenpox in my first trimester.) Third, I'm doubtful that the "movements" you are feeling is actually the baby. I believe that you start feeling the baby around 20-24 weeks. Finally, if you're really worried then call your doctor and tell them your concerns. They'll let you know what you really should be worried about and what is being an anxious pregnant Mommy. I called mine many, many times! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Don't beat yourself up. It is better than you don't get any sicker and have to take more serious medication. I made that error during my third pregnancy. I didn't take any cold medication and ended up with pneumonia for which I then had to take 4 different medications for. Even after taking antibiotics, breathing inhaler, etc., my son is a healthy and happy 15 month old. Take care of yourself! Your baby needs YOU to be healthy.

By the time you are getting this response you have felt the baby move again, I'll bet on it. Your womb is very much a protective environment, even though some medicines and substances do get through, if your doc says it's ok then don't worry, it's ok. If you really want to settle your mind just google "robitussin during early pregnancy" and you'll get the scoop. My doc prescribed a somewhat dangerous drug to me around 12 weeks pregnant and we were ok, my baby is healthy. He said there is a time (at 12 weeks) when the baby is developed enough that developmental harm would not happen so it was safe for me. I would think robitussin would not cause developmental harm, I can't imagine it causing any harm - it's only for sore throats, right?

You are only 12 weeks along... Most babies can't be felt until 20 weeks. What you were feeling that you wer the baby was probably just gas. Maybe your gas is gone. Call your OB but i am sure it is fine.

call your doctor, if you have not felt the baby move, call your doctor, mama source is not a doctors advice place,

Twelve weeks is awfully early to be feeling movement. I think you might be experiencing some parnoia. Call your doctor if you're really worried, though.

Hi V., I'm a mom of 3 kids, and your OB was correct, Robitussin is safe to take during pregnancy, so is plain sudafed. I have taken both of these with all three pregnancys. Hope this helps you, don't feel guilty about taken the cough syrup...

Hi V.,
It IS scary, and I hope you and your baby are feeling better. I had the same experience many years ago (after a bad cough from the 1996 Elfin Forest Fires in SD). You can contact the Teratogen Registry at UCSD. It is a research based group that tracks the interaction of drugs and pregnancy (usually the big drugs, prescription or illegal). They will have info on cough medicine. You will likely feel reassured that all is well, esp. since you were under the care of an OB-GYN. Be well!
S.

I thought I was feeling my baby move and at my visit at 12 weeks I asked my OB if that was possible, it seemed so early. She said it was WAY too early and that what I was experiencing was likely gas or my uterus expanding. It's my second pregnancy too, so I thought I would know! At any rate, even if you are feeling the baby moving, you wouldn't feel it moving with any regularity, it's too early. It's not until 25 weeks or so that you can do kick counts. Good luck!

V.,

You are perfectly fine. If you ever have any doubts on what is safe to take when pregnant, WebMD has a good list on their website. Also, I'm surprised you're already feeling the baby at 12 weeks. Don't stress about how much you're feeling the baby until around 25 weeks. That's when they start having you count kicks. Congratulations!

I had pnumonia from 18 weeks untill i gave birth> I had a z pac that fixed the infection but from that point on I had a caugh that was monitored until I gave birth. There was nothing I could do or take that would clear it up. I took mucinex and vicodine together as it was the same as cough suyrp on and off until my last two months to control the cough. The only reason I went off of it was because I did not want to give birth to a drugged baby. We were worried that I could go into labor and she would be sleepy. I did not do it often only when I would start coughing so hard that I would puke but still the concern on my part was there. My docs were not concerned at all. O chose to stop close to birth as I was supposed to be a bradley birth and a home birth and wanted the safest outcome for my daighter.
Do not stress about it.
I just wanted you to know that I did it for much longer than you did and everything is fine.

T.

I wouldn't worry. You usually can't feel the baby consistently until around 17/18 weeks anyways. I didn't feel my daugther consistently until around 20 weeks. I also used this website http://women.webmd.com/pregnancy-taking-medicine to check medications.

Taking medicine that your Doctor said was ok, should be fine. I think if for any reason you don't feel the baby move. You should get checked to be safe.

I am surprised that you have even felt the baby move yet at all. 12 weeks is REALLY early to feel the baby! I would call the OB if you are that concerned because a mother's intuition is pretty strong and your OB might be able to calm your fears. Being stressed during pregnancy is not good for you or the baby!
God bless you~

Do not worry-easier said than done. I had pneumonia during my 2nd pregnancy and took a few scrpts. and had to have xrays during my 3rd. the normal pregnancy was my 1st one, and he is a cancer survivor. So, I hope a little cough medicine wont make a difference.

I'm surprised you can feel your baby move at 12 weeks. Don't use this alone as a gauge for your baby's health. Call your OB about your concerns. Throughout all my pregnancies I was sick and took medicine that was OB approved. There are also some teas out there that ease cold symptoms. Check with your OB first to make sure the herbs don't affect yours or your baby's health.

V.,

Stop beating yourself up! I have terrible allergies and they were esepecially bad in my first trimester. As a result, I got a sinus infection and then awful cold/flu like symptoms. My OBGYN said it was okay to take Sudafed to ease up my symptoms, but she gave me a list of meds that in moderation were okay.

I had the same freak out, and went to my OBGYN. She did an ultrasound, and then explained to me that my baby would be moing and then not be moving and it was SO early in my pregnancy that the movement would not be a significant indication that there was something wrong.

Everything turned out okay for us, but I always follow the rule of thumb to follow my gut...so, I would call you OBGYn and voice your concerns.

Good Luck!

Don't worry - if you are stressed, your baby knows it. If your OB okayed the medicine & dosage, then I am sure that is fine. I got a list of the drugs that were okay to take from my doctor, you might ask for a similar list. Pretty much typlanol is the only thing you can take. If you are concerned then you should stick to vitamins and healthy food to stay in good health.

It is fine. Don't stress yourself out. Besides, most drugs that are harmful are harmful when taking in large doses or quite frequently. An occassional dose to keep you well is fine. It's a little early to feel the baby too. All will be fine.

I had to take allergy and asthma meds during my pregnancy. My ob/gyn said any effects from these medicines are much less than if I had a severe asthma attack and had to be hospitalized. You don't want to get really sick and need stronger medications. You always have to weigh everything when making these kinds of decisions. And sometimes you just have to trust your doctor! For the record, my daughter was born at full term, 8 lbs, and to this day (she's 4 now) is extremely healthy and BIG! (She's always in the 90th percentile for height.) You really have to take care of YOUR health and try not to get yourself stressed out over every little thing. Stress can be harmful too.

BTW, I agree that 12 weeks is very early to be worried about movement. I'm sure you're going to your regular exams...so be reassured by those!