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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

142 replies

ThatOneHurt · 22/11/2018 22:01

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 Hmm.

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.

OP posts:
Weetabixandshreddies · 24/11/2018 17:40

Yes OP but just because it's OTC doesn't mean it is safe to take whilst pregnant does it?

And I take tramadol now. Taken it for ages. I know it's ok for me to take. So why do I have to get a prescription? Why does a dr have to agree to it? Do they know better than I do about the risks?

As I said before, just lie.

Buy what you like and take what you like. It's all good. You know what's safe after all.

ichifanny · 24/11/2018 17:42

I started a thread about this in the summer when a pharmacist wouldn’t let me buy hemorrhoid cream that wasn’t even behind the counter because I was pregnant , I was in complete agony , in the end I ordered it on amazon prime same day delivery but I was furious at the notion could tell me what I would use .

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 18:57

As I said before, just lie.

Buy what you like and take what you like

But she can't. Because the powers that be won't let her. Sometimes even with a script from a doctor. Because she's pregnant and because they assume she's either too thick to know what to do or because she doesn't care about her baby.

Angeliki159 · 24/11/2018 19:05

My doctor told me to continue taking sertraline during my pregnancy.
EVERY month I had the same argument with the pharmacy who refused to give it to me because I'm pregnant.

Same with eye drops for my hayfever. Doctor said it was fine but because they are behind the counter I wasn't allowed them

Weetabixandshreddies · 24/11/2018 19:16

But she can't

She can. They will ask if it's for her and she says no.

Should she do it? Imo no because it's a safety measure but as she says, it's her body.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:20

Threads like this really annoy me. If they are told not to sell something to pregnant women why should they sell it to you and risk their jobs and career?
The patient information leaflet quite clearly states that you need to speak to a doctor if you have thrush before using the cream but it's not as if you can't get it if you really want to. You just have to lie and take the responsiblity yourself rather than expecting other people to.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:23

But she can't. Because the powers that be won't let her. Sometimes even with a script from a doctor. Because she's pregnant and because they assume she's either too thick to know what to do or because she doesn't care about her baby.

They don't "assume that she is too thick" they just don't want to lose their jobs by doing something that the medicines authorities have told them not to do. If she can't lie about the pregnancy she can just ask someone else to get the prescription dispensed.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:26

EVERY month I had the same argument with the pharmacy who refused to give it to me because I'm pregnant.

So why didn't you just give the prescription to someone else to get dispensed. Wtf should a stranger have to do something that could potentially get them into trouble just so you aren't inconvenienced?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 19:31

Why should she have to lie?

I'm sorry, this isn't right. When a woman is pregnant she doesn't turn into a voiceless incubator, who cannot be trusted to take care of herself and the baby.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 19:34

You just have to lie and take the responsiblity yourself rather than expecting other people to.

Hmm

No one should have to lie to buy medicine that's safe in pregnancy and prescribed by their doctor. Or indeed honey.

If someone isn't happy to sell these items they should find a new place of work.

Weetabixandshreddies · 24/11/2018 19:38

Why should she have to lie?

Because the pharmacy has to follow the rules. Why should they break the rules?

I take 8 paracetamol a day. You can only buy 2 packets at a time so everytime I go shopping I buy some. When my husband and I go shopping we buy 2 packs each and go to different checkouts. Why should I have to? Because that's all they are allowed to sell me so either I find a work around or put up with it. What I can't do is kick off in the expectation that someone will break the rules and risk their job for my convenience.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:38

No one should have to lie to buy medicine that's safe in pregnancy and prescribed by their doctor. Or indeed honey.

The thrush cream wasn't prescribed by the doctor. She wanted to purchase it over the counter and the rules are that if you have thrush they can't sell it to you. This is because recurrent bouts of thrush when pregnant can be a sign of gestational diabetes.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 19:40

You see nothing wrong with making people lie?

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:40

If someone isn't happy to sell these items they should find a new place of work.

So if someone isn't happy to sell something that they are not legally allowed to sell they should find a new place of work?! That's ridiculous. Do you think that noone should work in shop unless they're prepared to sell alcohol to children too?

Weetabixandshreddies · 24/11/2018 19:42

You see nothing wrong with making people lie?

Of course I do.

She shouldn't lie but she doesn't want to follow the rules so what's the choice?

Do you think someone else should risk their job for her convenience then?

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 24/11/2018 19:43

I'm sorry, this isn't right. When a woman is pregnant she doesn't turn into a voiceless incubator, who cannot be trusted to take care of herself and the baby.

YES!!!!

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:43

You see nothing wrong with making people lie?

The pharmacist isn't making people lie. They are just following the rules that are decided by the licensing authorities. If you don't like them complain to the people that decide them i.e. the MHRA rather than expect HCP to risk their jobs and career by breaking them.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 19:44

I agree with you OP, it's ridiculous. I had a pharmacist nearly refuse to sell me ondanestron, which the obstetrician had prescribed me for morning sickness. Yes the obstetrician, not even the GP. He fannyed about for ages umming and ahhing over whether he could give it to me since I was pregnant. Well I wouldn't have needed it if I wasn't!

I had HG when pregnant and ended up being prescribed anti-emetics. A pharmacist refused to give them to me. I was (for the only time in my life) genuinely furious. Yes - because 2 gps and 4 hospital consultants (in a natal/gynae) hospital were unaware I was pregnant...apparently

Not just the thrush cream. Refused prescriptions.

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:52

Not just the thrush cream. Refused prescriptions.

That is an odd account as you can't "buy" ondanestron. It is only prescription. The fact that it was prescribed by a doctor doesn't absolve them of all responsibility. They still need to check that it is okay and considering the manufacturer says that "safety is not established" in pregnancy that is not surprising.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 19:55

Ok, so now pregnant women and their doctors can't be trusted?

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 19:58

Ok, so now pregnant women and their doctors can't be trusted

No, but they would have to speak to the doctor first and satisfy themselves that it was okay because if something went wrong they would be held as responsible for it as the doctor. Saying that the "doctor told me to do" wouldn't stop them from being prosecuted or sued etc.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/11/2018 20:01

Saying that the "doctor told me to do" wouldn't stop them from being prosecuted or sued etc.

I thought what's what prescriptions were for?

Dungeondragon15 · 24/11/2018 20:08

I thought what's what prescriptions were for?

No the fact that it is on prescription doesn't mean that the pharmacist is absolved of all responsibility. If anything goes wrong and the pharmacist could have prevented it they will be in trouble too.

Crunchymum · 24/11/2018 20:26

Maybe there should be some kind of disclaimer / waiver that can be signed.

I speak as someone who has had to stop breastfeeding in order to take a medication (well actually I was expressing for a tube fed baby but same difference) that really isn't breast feeding safe nor can I get pregnant on it

I appreciate that the same level of 'over zealousness' for thrush cream and a dangerous to fetus medication doesn't make sense when you can buy one OTC but overall I side with the pharmacists. They are qualified and have guidelines and protocols.

We have the choice to shop elsewhere / tell a white lie / send someone else.

SauvignonBlanche · 24/11/2018 20:29

I thought what's what prescriptions were for?

No the dispenser (pharmacist) and anyone who administers medication (i.e. nurse) are also professionally accountable.