“I took medication before realizing I was pregnant. Will my baby be okay?”
Many expectant mothers worry about whether taking medication during pregnancy could harm their baby. While some avoid all medications, experts emphasize that using the right treatment at the right time is more important than complete avoidance.
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association stated that the period between 27 and 67 days after conception is when medication use poses the highest risk to fetal development. During the first three months of pregnancy, rapid cell division and organ formation occur, making even minor drug side effects potentially harmful.
Women of childbearing age should consider the possibility of pregnancy when taking medications around their expected menstrual period. If pregnancy is confirmed, extra caution should be exercised when using medications during the following months. However, if a woman unknowingly takes medication before missing her period, she should not panic about congenital disabilities.
Before implantation, which occurs about a week before an expected period, the fertilized egg has not yet attached to the uterus. Even after implantation, during the early stages, it is not yet fully reliant on maternal nutrients. Therefore, medication taken before a missed period is unlikely to impact fetal development.
Certain medications require special caution during pregnancy, including sedatives, pain relievers, antibiotics, and antihistamines commonly found in cold medicines. These drugs can pose serious risks to fetal health, and pregnant women should consult a healthcare professional before taking them.
One well-known example of medication risks during pregnancy is the thalidomide incident of 1961, where mothers who took the sedative gave birth to children with severe limb deformities. This event led to stricter drug safety regulations, especially concerning pregnant women.
Painkillers can also affect fetal brain development, while some antibiotics may interfere with bacterial DNA, potentially impacting fetal genetic material. Despite these risks, untreated infections such as amniotic infections, rubella, or tuberculosis can also pose significant dangers to both mother and baby. In such cases, treatment is necessary, and delaying medical care can be more harmful than taking carefully selected medications.
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association advised that while caution is necessary during early pregnancy due to the formation of major organs, avoiding essential treatment can also be dangerous. Instead of preventing medication entirely, pregnant women should consult healthcare providers to determine the safest and most effective treatments to protect both their health and their baby’s well-being.