Have I broken my baby?!

[Artesia]

I posted up a few days ago re hay fever medicine, and was being really careful about what to take as am only 8.5 weeks. Anyway, turns out I don't have hay fever, it's a full blown snotty, sore throated cold. Stupidly, I didn't even think twice about taking strepsils (only had about 8 in total over 3 days), but now read that not supposed to have them, at least not without consulting the doctor.

DP has, in the nicest way, told me to stop being ridiculous- people used to drink, smoke and take all sorts of medication throughout pregnancy and they were fine, but am still slightly worried I have somehow put my baby at risk. Any words of wisdom/ comfort? Am seeing midwife tomorrow so will mention it to her, and got a scan on Tuesday which will hopefully put my mind at rest (until I find something else to worry about!)

[rubyslippers]

you'll be fine

aren't strepsils mainly sugar/sucrose?

[yogafan]

You'll be fine! I remember reading a whole load of reassuring stuff about cold remedies and pregnancy - basically the manufacturers haven't done tests to prove they are safe during pregnancy so just advise against taking them. I was a scaredy cat and didn't take any anyway but really don't worry that you've done any harm.

[MummyBurrows]

I'm pretty sure every single over the counter medicine,pain killer,throat sweet,ect says don't take without consulting a doctor first but they're generally all fine to take,pregnant or not,only have to be careful if you have allergies or on other medications,especially prescribed ones. 2 things I know you definitely can't take,at least in early pregnancy,are aspirin and ibuprofen. Throat sweets aren't going to do any harm to the baby at all :)

[lollypopsicle]

I'm sure you will be fine but do check as I asked a pharmacist about this and they referred to a specific ingredient in cough/sore throat sweets that was apparently unsuitable as it restricts blood flow!?! He says the only thing I could have was halls soothers.
Whether there was any real truth in this, I don't know and I can't remember the name of the ingredient, sorry.

[Artesia]

Thanks all.

Lolly- spoke to the pharmacist, who was not very helpful. She just said "well, i can't offer any reassurances", which obviously totally freaked me out. Am obviously not going to take any more, is more just worrying about what might hjusto appended. Suppose is just a case of crossing fingers and waiting til the scan on Tuesday.

[quertas]

Artesia
Check out www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Strepsils. Especially "This medicine is not known to cause any problems during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. However, as with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding"

Basically no medicines are tested on pregnant women so there is no way for firms to calculate a risk, hence blanket advice to avoid them. But the key sentence here is that it's not known to cause problems. Given the number of preg women each year and the availability of strepsils if they did cause a problem this would probably be known by now. Don't panic !

[YBR]

as ruby says, strepsils are mainly sugars for soothing the throat. My GP told me in the past that they're fine (allergies and other medication aside).

[newbie6]

Hi

I did the same as you OP however ate about 2 packets when loaded with the cold, read the back of the packet and freaked out! My wee boy was born safe and healthy so try not to worry. As others say, it's because they don't trial them on pregnant women so they can't offer a guarantee that they are okay to take but you didn't take many so beat yourself up.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy x

[newbie6]

Meant to say don't beat yourself up!

[Artesia]

Just to say a big thank you to you all for being WAY more rational and sensible than me. Had a routine scan today (we had iui, so the clinic scan you at around 9.5 weeks) and the baby was happily wriggling away, utterly unaffected by my strepsils!!!!

[yogafan]

Horray! Congrats x