Why does being pregnant suddenly make me thick and unable to make decisions about my own body?

[ThatOneHurt]

I was prescribed iron tablets that made me vomit. I knew I was ok with ferrous sulphate (I suffer with anemia pregnant or not) so went to purchase some and they refused to sell them to me.

Today they questioned me buying thrush treatment, I had to tell them that it was for a friend. They told me they were only selling it to me if it wasn't for me .

Same goes for topical steroid cream.

All of these things, I can buy when I am not pregnant to soothe my body.
None of these things have a detrimental effect on my fetus.
None of these things require a prescription.
All of these things can be bought.

Yet, when I am pregnant I am apparently become to fucking thick to have autonomy over my body, and someone else has to decide for me that I am no longer equip to deal with these decisions by myself ergo refuse to sell me the treatment and tell me to see my GP.

YES I know they are "covering their back". But that's a cop out.
It's my body, it isn't harmful to the baby and I should bloody well continue to have autonomy over my body and what I chose to soothe symtoms of various ailments.

Hugely frustrating
Just as an aside, ferrous sulphate are iron tablets

Just as an aside, ferrous sulphate are iron tablets

Are you asking me, or telling me?

" I agree with BrownEyedBiscuit in that the pharmacists are complying with regulations"
You're saying its not about the honey but it is. They refused to sell honey to a pregnant woman. There are no regulations about honey in pregnancy!

Because it’s the law and they could lose their jobs? Loads of medication are likely safe in pregnancy, but as they haven’t been tested (for moral reasons) aren’t licensed to be sold. Fulfilling prescriptions as well, the pharmacist isn’t just there to count out tablets, and as annoying as you may have found it, the pharmacist has every right to ask the doctor and refuse. It isn’t about people thinking you have no ability to make decisions about your body; it is about the pharmaceutical regulatory body and the licensing of medication, mixed with professionals adhering correctly to this.

Of course stuff like the honey one is weird, but that is just one person and not the profession as a whole.

Iron toxicity is very serious and can be fatal. Some water soluble vitamins you would pee out any excess but nit iron.

Indeed! And Im aware of this when I am not pregnant. When I'm pregnant I'm STILL aware of this.
But apparently once I'm carrying a baby I will suddenly lose the plot and eat packets and packets of iron tablets?

Then why did you originally say

The iron tablets are for my system because the baby is stealing my resources. If I were to suddenly become really thick and unable to take medication carefully, I would simply pee out the excess iron.

My point is that you won't "simply pee out the excess iron" as you originally stated.^^

I said that because I was referring to accidentally taking an extra tablet. God forbid!

I wasn't intending on eating 206 tablets.
Just like I wouldn't do that with aspirin, paracetamol or ibruprofen. All of which I can just buy from the supermarket.

I love repeating myself.

I have no more chance overdosing on iron tablets than I do when I'm NOT pregnant

THATS MY POINT.

It makes NO difference.

Except apparently I become a risk to myself once I'm pregnant and suddenly I'm going to be really fucking thick and take far too many iron tablets

Except I'm not.

I have bolder and capitalised for your viewing pleasure. and you clearly cant read my other posts

A pharmacist refused to sell me liquorice drops once. They sold them on the counter.

Got thrush cream in Superdrug the other day (in early pregnancy) and they tried to send me to Boots.

ThatOneHurt

Thanks. I can clearly read your posts, including the one where you say that If I were to suddenly become really thick and unable to take medication carefully, I would simply pee out the excess iron.

You don't say if I accidentally took 1 extra.
If you engage in hyperbole don't be surprised that someone reacts to it.

You may well know that excess iron is dangerous (your first post doesn't read like you do no the dangers but anyway) but I wanted to point out the danger to other people who might read your post and think it's fine to take too much iron because I'll just pee out the excess.

Yanbu I had some little turd question me when I ordered half a lager when visibly pg and still hesitated and looked at my dp for 'permission' (who then asked to speak to her manager about it)

It wasn't an encounter when I was pregnant but I once purchased herbal Nytol sleeping tablets from Tesco. I've taken them a fair few times in the past. The in-store pharmacist then asked me tonnes of intrusive questions about why I was using them (recovering from DV and didn't want hardcore sleeping pills). Lectured me like a child on all the side effects etc. Constantly looking me up and down like I didn't know what I was buying or I was going to use them to get high or something! You can purchase Nytol from the shelf so a pharmacist's 'permission' is not necessary and he shouldn't have got involved, he just walked over and started rambling at me I experienced being treated as if I was stupid and unaware when I was pregnant as well though! It's fairly common I think

I always thought it was men who were worse at taking care of their health

Agree OP, it's one of my pet hates about being pregnant. Completely understand they need to ensure you are aware of the risks but we either allow women to make the same choices about their own bodies when pregnant that we do when they are not. Or we don't. And I think that's quite a serious statement about women's bodily autonomy.

Yes advise, yes warn, yes refuse to sell in limited extreme circumstances but in general you should be allowed to buy as you would if you weren't pregnant

either allow women to make the same choices about their own bodies when pregnant that we do when they are not. Or we don't. And I think that's quite a serious statement about women's bodily autonomy.

YES.

THIS with bells on. And Christmas lights and leprcauns dancing round it.

EXACTLY any point.

Why can't we all be allowed to do it then?

I can only buy 2 packets of paracetamol at a time. I'm not pregnant. Can I not exercise bodily autonomy?

What about prescription only drugs? Why can't I buy tramadol, oromorph,naproxen etc?

Why can't I buy heroin if I want to?

Because at some point the risks vs benefits have been weighed up and rules have been put in place to limit harm.

OP you might be well eminently sensible and very able to make decisions for yourself but a great number of other people won't and that is what these safeguards are there for.

Also, it's not the same to compare your pregnant yourself with your non pregnant self. Medicines that are harmless to take when not pregnant can be very dangerous if you are pregnant - thalidomide anyone? Just because you have safely taken something when not pregnant it doesn't mean that it is safe now.

If you hate people trying to safeguard the health of your baby just tell the pharmacist that you are buying whatever for someone else if you are happy to accept the risk.

Actually it’s not clear whether it is harmful to your baby or not. They probably aren’t but there aren’t any studies to this effect. That is why you are only supposed to take these things on a doctors recommendation so that they can measure clinical need against the small possibility that it may be harmful.

I dont think its to do with pregnant women being incapable of making choices and more to do with the fact that some people are idiots who would make stupud decisions and try to sue the life out of any living thing so pharmacists have to work to the letter.
I'd not be keen on risking my job on the say so of a stranger who may or may not try to sue me for their actions.

I once tried to buy Nytol when 22 weeks pregnant, the assistant looked at my abdomen went over to the pharmacist, muttered to each other and came back and said they couldn’t sell them as they interacted with my other meds that I’d previously checked with them as not interacting with them.

They never actually asked if I was pregnant, I’m was also overweight. If they had I could have explained that I have suffered an intrauterine death, which is why I couldn’t see whilst waiting to be induced. I think they just decided what was best for me, like I was a child.

Totally missing my point.

Again the point got up and moved to australia, you have missed my point so badly.

I'm not repeating myself any more.

Those who have understood my beef with autonomy over my body (the same body which contains a well informed brain that doesn't stop working when pregnant) I appreciate your input.

The last three posters are absolutely not understand what I'm saying whatsoever, you are quite literally arguing a totally different situation to the one I am.

I am going to lay down now with my thrush and my piles and my heartburn and low iron and itchy legs and all the rest of the stuff that comes with being 8 months pregnant.

✌🏻

Yes, it maddens me as well, and sounds like it's got worse in the last few years. Mums-to-be have the right to decide their own risk profile for the most part, and every year more and more stuff is declared 'unsafe' that has been fine for years and I'm sick and tired of it. And yes, we are also capable of having 'just one drink' and don't have to be banned from all alcohol in case we accidentally go on a massive binge.

Ok not the last three posters.
I posted too late. The 3 before that

What about prescription only drugs? Why can't I buy tramadol, oromorph,naproxen etc?

👆🏻

I mean for fuck sake.
The point has been missed SO wildly that I'm genuinely wondering if you are being deliberately obtuse and spilling for an argument.

ThatOneHurt

Why though?

Bodily autonomy means you have the right to make your own decisions even if that might harm you right? So where is the line?

BECAUSE IM TALKING ABOUT A DRUG THAT ISNT PRESCRIPTION ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER IN WAS FUCKING PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus fucking WEPT!

I can think of plenty of adults I wouldn't trust to use paracetamol but no one stops them buying it