During the first three months of your pregnancy, it is best not to take any medication. You should try treatments other than medicine for common medical problems. However, if these treatments are not effective, you may be able to take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. The following is a list of problems you may experience during your pregnancy and various treatments for them, including OTC medications that are safe to take:

Upper Respiratory Infections (Colds and Flu)

• Plenty of fluids and rest
• Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer at night (especially if you are congested)

Stuffy Nose

• Sudafed, Actifed or Triaminic syrup

Sore Throat

• Gargle with mouthwash, such as Chloraseptic or Listerine, or salt water (1 tsp. salt in 8 oz. of warm water)
• Sucrets
• Cold or hot fluids (whichever feels better)

Cough

• Cough drops or throat lozenges
• Plenty of fluids
• Robitussin DM, Tylenol Cold
• Sudafed or Actifed (if cough is due to post-nasal drip)

General Achiness

• Two Regular or Extra Strength Tylenol every four hours as needed

Allergies

• Benadryl for runny nose, itchy eyes, dry cough or nasal stuffiness
• Chlortrimeton, Sudafed, Actifed, Tylenol Sinus, Zyrtec or Claritin
• A cool cloth on your eyes to ease the itching

Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy (First Four Months)

• Eat small, frequent meals (five or six small meals)
• Eat crackers, dry cereal or dry toast before lifting your head from bed in the morning; nibble on these foods frequently throughout the day
• Drink liquids separately from food
• Avoid the odor of food cooking, especially frying
• Avoid fried, spicy or greasy foods and strongly-flavored vegetables

Headaches

• Eat and drink something if you haven’t in the past few hours
• Lie down in a dark, quiet room with a cold cloth on your head
• Take (2) Extra Strength Tylenol or Acetaminophen every four hours

Diarrhea

• Immodium AD or Kaopectate
• Drink clear fluids followed by BRAT diet (banana, rice, applesauce, toast) when diarrhea improves

Constipation

• Increase fluids
• Increase fiber in diet (popcorn, celery, salad, carrots, nuts, bran cereals, shredded wheat, raw fruits and vegetables, prune juice at bedtime)
• Regular exercise
• Metamucil, Milk of Magnesia
• Colace (stool softener) twice a day

Hemorrhoids

• If constipated, increase the fiber in your diet
• Soak in the bathtub
• Preparation H, Anusol, Tucks, Hemorid

Heartburn

• Small frequent meals (five to six per day)
• No eating at bedtime
• Sleep with your head elevated on several pillows
• Tums, Mylanta, Maalox, Zantac, Pepcid, Gaviscon

Nausea and Vomiting

• Clear fluids (clear soft drinks, tea, apple juice, jello, popsicles, broth); sips or small amounts every 10-15 minutes
• Add bland foods in small amounts once clear fluids have stayed down for several hours (cereal, crackers, toast, baked or boiled potatoes, applesauce canned fruits, boiled or broiled meat)

If you are experiencing the following problems, call our office at (229) 241-2800 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and a nurse will assist you:

• If you are unable to keep fluids down for one day
• If your headaches are persistent, severe, of if you have a history of high blood pressure
• If you have diarrhea lasting more than two days