Doctors warn pregnant women against self-medication

KABUL (Pajhwok): Health experts consider arbitrary use of medicines by pregnant women harmful and say taking un-prescribed drugs can cause abortion, premature birth and malformations in babies.
According to doctors, the pregnancy period is nine months, the first trimester (three months) is sensitive and important due to the formation of the skeleton of the fetus, and the mother must be under special care.
Dr. Malali Rahim Faizi, head of Malalai Maternity Hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that in the first three months the fetus develops distinct facial features, limbs, organs, bones and muscles so the mother should have a good diet.
She suggested that expecting mothers should avoid use of drugs arbitrarily and maintain their mental and emotional peace during pregnancy.
In response to a question about problems caused by arbitrary use of medicines during pregnancy, she replied: “During pregnancy, mothers who have gout, headache, pain in stomach, or any other problem, take drugs arbitrarily and use them, they are wronging themselves and it has a bad impact on their fetus.”
According to her, self-medication is dangerous for everyone, especially pregnant women, which can cause respiratory and heart diseases in mothers and malformations in newborns. She urged mothers to never use drugs arbitrarily during pregnancy without the prescription of a gynecologist and obstetrician.
At the same time, Dr. Nadia Roin, in charge in Nazo Ana hospital located in 10th police district of Shahr-i-Naw said, the pregnancy period, which lasts for nine months, is divided into three stages.
She emphasized: “A woman should visit her doctor at least once or twice a month during pregnancy to avoid self-medication that causes premature births, malformations (cleft palate and cleft lip), and bleeding to prevent the loss of child.”
He added that pregnant woman should take medicines according to doctor’s advice and perform laboratory tests. Because some microbes cause abortion and to prevent abortion and blood deficiency, mothers should use folic acid medicine according to the doctor’s advice.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sunita Bahram, obstetrician-gynecologist at “Shafajo Health Center” in Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul, said that pregnancy period lasted nine months and was divided into three stages that included 37 weeks.
Calling this period as important, she advised mothers to refrain from arbitrarily taking drugs, do regular walk during pregnancy, and in addition to drinking fluids, they should also consume enough fruits, vegetables and nutritious foods.
She added: “During pregnancy, mothers can suffer from back pain, abdominal pain and pollen pain and drinking 12 glasses of water a day solves these problems to a large extent.”
She confirmed that patients had come to their hospital facing problems of abortion and bleeding due to arbitrary use of drugs.