Medication
Most medication has not been proven to be harmful to the unborn child. But what’s more important is that it has not been proven to be completely harmless. During the first three months of pregnancy, all the important organs of the child are formed. During that time, medicines can inhibit or severely disturb the development of organs. Drugs may also have a damaging effect in the last months of pregnancy. For example, aspirin can cause bleeding. The baby’s brain grows throughout pregnancy – medications can seriously affect brain development in the last months of pregnancy as well.
If you do need medication, consult your doctor and / or pharmacist about whether you can use it during pregnancy. In some cases, it is better to take drugs instead of doing nothing. It’s generally understood that paracetamol does not transfer through the placenta, so you may use paracetamol if necessary, preferably only after the first three months.
SSRIs (anti-depressants)
SSRIs are a variety of medicines prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist for example in case of anxiety or depression. If you use SSRIs during pregnancy, some of the drugs will be transferred into the unborn child through the umbilical cord and placenta, which may have serious consequences. Women who take SSRIs are given extra guidance during their pregnancy, childbirth and directly afterwards. For more information, read the brochure on SSRI usage.
Other substances
In pregnancy, try to avoid contact with the following substances: solvent-based paints, pesticides, chemicals (such as photographic developers) and laser games. Effects of hair dye are currently unknown. For the sake of certainty, you should not use any substances with lead-containing solvents.