To want to make my own decision about what I out on my body in pregnancy

[ichifanny]

Nearly 30 weeks pregnant got absolutely massive agony haemorrhoids that are stopping me from sleeping from be pressure , went to a pharmacy to get a treatment cream as I was desperate and was told as I’m pregnant I’d need to see GP for a prescription even though I can buy it in any shop off the shelf . Naturally I came home empty handed and have ordered same day delivery on Amazon . I’m getting slightly fed up with feeling like public property in pregnancy , anyone can walk in and buy the cream but my being pregnant meant they would t allow me to ,if I want to drink a bottle of vodka or smoke some heroin or use cream on my arse I will .

So the point of this post is , should shops bars be able to discriminate at someone being pregnant ? Bars serving a pregnant woman ,over the counter medicines being refused ? What’s next not seeking me Pate or unpasteurised cheese in Tesco ?

This isn't discrimination though. Some medicines shouldn't be used in pregnancy without GP advice.

Pile cream isn’t one of them it’s safe in pregnancy , seems to be a cop out for pharmacies to defer anything pregnancy related to a GP .

Seriously? I'm a very relaxed pregnant woman generally, but there is a reason that some things are available over the counter usually but not in pregnancy, because these drugs cross the placental barrier and there is a risk assessment - if you went to see the gp, for example, he or she might prescribe you an alternative with lower risk. Same for example as ibuprofen - over the country normally, bad idea in pregnancy. Can't see why you're so upset about rules put in place to protect people.
As for the comments about heroin and vodka
.. well, I know how much piles in pregnancy hurt, so assume it's down to that...

It’s my body of I choose to use pile cream then that’s my choice , just like it is if I chose to have a glass of wine in pregnancy ( I haven’t ) I find it very patronising. Just for the record heamorrhoid cream is fine in pregnancy and doesn’t cross the placental barrier .

Missing the point of your thread but snook salts in a warm bath helped my pregnancy piles. They were so bad I couldn't even lay still without being in pain

Epsom even

It’s not over the counter either it’s widely available to buy off shelf no questions asked .

Ah Epsom salts might be a good shout .Does everything pregnancy related need to be deferred to a GP though ? Seems a ridiculous waste of resources that I need to see a GP to tell me I can use Anusol when I know fine well I can and can walk into any shop and buy it .

YANBU. If you sent someone to buy it on your behalf they wouldn't quiz them. I have heard (don't know how true) that shops won't fit underwired bras if you are pregnant. Again, surely that should be your choice.

I know it’s annoying. I couldn’t buy thrush cream otc the other day. Felt like it was a massive waste of time having to phone to just to get them to write prescription for the exact thing I could have bought. I suppose they want to screen your symptoms during pregnancy just incase there’s something else going on. The final straw for me though was when the pharmacist wouldn’t let me buy bath salts?! Have never idea why!

So you're annoyed that temporarily your body is shared and you have to be considerate to the well being of your baby?
Medical research may have bought up a red flag, hence the recommended gp visit.
There's lots of things that are advised against during pregnancy. Just follow it! It's all there to protect your unborn baby

If I hadn’t looked massively pregnant I could have walked up to the counter and bought it no questions asked .

Not the point of this thread but have you tried lactose (stool softener) - may stop them getting worse and is available OTC

Ahh just seen Epsom salts have been mentioned ! Hope your pharmacist isn’t as fussy as mine.

YANBU - it seems to be a blanket policy for pharmacists to refuse pretty much every medication during pregnancy; I had athlete's foot during mine and despite calling 111 and being told Canesten was fine to use the pharmacist wouldn't sell me it and I had to send DH in to buy it for me. It's just lazy arse - covering as they're terrified of getting sued. Hope you get some relief

I completely agree. My pregnant friend was in the pub yesterday and ordered a rose for her mum and the barman told her she really shouldn't be drinking

I get why you're mad and it's annoying when you've made it to the shops in the heat. I got told not to buy liquorice pastilles in a pharmacy when I was pregnant as apparently liquorice is bad too? I'd been eating a lot of liquorice.
The reason why they refused is probably fear of litigation. It's negligence to give a pregnant woman something that could foreseeably harm her/the baby or to give a medicine that most doctors/pharmacists wouldn't. Getting a prescription covers their backs. Their insurance company probably requires them to do it.
It's the same with loads of things in pregnancy, it's hard/unethical to do tests to prove something is safe so they err on the side of caution, fine that protects babies but probably also leaves a lot of women going without stuff/putting up with discomfort needlessly.

(Rosé that is..)

Not annoyed at my body being shared , I’m a critical Carr nurse so I’m aware of what should and shouldn’t be used in pregnancy it’s not a case of being aggrieved I’m being denied certain foods or alcohol , but ultimately it’s my body and I’m not just a vessel and should I choose to use an ointment on my skin then that’s my choice . Just like the thrush cream a previous OP has mentioned , pharmacies are meant to offer help with minor ailments to take the heat of GPs so having to see a GP for every pregnancy ailment is ridiculous .

Care not Carr , fat swollen pregnancy fingers today .

PS If you're absolutely sure an OTC medicine is safe, just say you're buying it for DP/DH.

Yes exactly that feeling of everyone looking to tell you what you shouldn’t be doing Amanduh none of their bloody business of your friend was having a glass of Rose . It’s my bottom and carrying a baby doesn’t change that , yes the blanket refuse to sell anything to pregnant women seems over the top .

My best friend had horrendous piles. She swore by a frozen ice pop wrapped in a hanky and held against the vital area.
You're right though, I'm 5 months and was told by the sales woman in Holland and Barratt I shouldn't be taking normal vitamins. I wasn't even buying them for myself.

Yes Cholka won’t assume I have any autonomy next time and say it’s for someone else imagine taking up a GP appointment for a bum grape , GP surgeries would be on their knees if every pregnant woman with a pile had to come in for an examination before getting a prescription for an off shelf cream .