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.

I'm kind of in 2 minds here. On the one hand I 100% agree you have a voice and are a person with rights, pregnancy or no.

However, pharmacists are liable if they sell you something that isn't marked as safe for baby, and you have a complication.

It is all well and good you saying 'my cream won't affect my baby' - but unless the manufacturer has undertaken peer reviewed studies to prove that, it can't be taken as true just because you say so. That's not because you don't have a brain while pregnant, it's that there's no way for you to know.

It's not just over the counter tablets op it's the very way we give birth.. Trying to tell us force us, shame and brain wash us how to do it...

I want an elc....

I wasn't allowed anything stronger than gaviscon when pregnant either, not even the stuff that's on the shelf, never mind the stuff behind the desk!

Also was unable to buy infant nurafen because I stupidly admitted that DS was 11 1/2 weeks old rather than 12. Tesco's online shopping has no such qualms in selling it to me!

Medications from behind the pharmacy counter are sold under a pharmacist's supervision, such as iron tablets, hydrocortisone cream. In contrast to medications you pick up from the shelf yourself like paracetamol.

With behind the shelf items, the pharmacist has a legal responsibility to only sell them in certain legally defined circumstances. Often that will exclude pregnancy. The pharmacist is not being difficult, they are following the law and their professional body guidelines.

The exclusion for pregnancy isn't because someone has made a judgement about pregnant women's intelligence, it is because these products are often unlicensed in pregnancy, the manufacturer usually places warnings saying only use in pregnancy if advised to do so by a doctor, the safety profile is sometimes not fully established. It has been decided that a doctor not a pharmacist should make that decision (in non pregnant women the medication was sold under pharmacist supervision so it was never the customer making that decision).

If you think these regulations should be relaxed then don't get angry with the individual pharmacist following the law, write to your MP, or to a pharmacy professional body, or start a petition.

Personally I would like to see some of them relaxed, for example selling after a brief discussion with the pharmacist and/ or being given an advice sheet, things like lactulose it's hard to see where you could go wrong really. You would need to be informed if the medication is unlicensed in pregnancy. For example with canesten there would need to be advice about not using the applicator and not putting pessary on cervix, and if persistent thrush advice to see GP/ midwife to consider gestational diabetes testing, and if the symptoms don't go away to see GP in case due to something else.

Obviously some of the anecdotes given are of pharmacists saying silly things, like the honey.

I had an argument with a woman working in boots. I was in horrible pain with suspected spd and midwife recommended me to get some co codamol. Would she let me buy them? No "Ooh I don't know, I need to speak to the pharmacist! "

And that's after a medical professional told me to buy them! I told her to stick it and got a friend to buy them elsewhere!

And that's after a medical professional told me to buy them! I told her to stick it and got a friend to buy them elsewhere!

So you expect them to go on your word that a midwife wanted you to have it?! Even if the midwife told the pharmacist personally that she wanted you to have it, the pharmacist would still be held responsible (along with the midwife) should anything go wrong.

I had a D&C (missed miscarriage) and was recommend to buy some paracetamol and codeine to ease any after pains. I was refused by a male pharmacist to have them as they said I could cope without. That's not even covering their back it was just personal opinion.

I think they should give the woman an option to sign a form stating that she takes full responsibility for anything that happens to the baby as a result of taking the medication. Then the pharmacist won't have to worry about being sued.

WeAreTheWeirdosMister

How did he even know what you wanted it for though?

On the odd occasion I've bought medication I'm asked if I've had it before and if it's for me. I've not been asked why I want it.

I was refused by a male pharmacist to have them as they said I could cope without. That's not even covering their back it was just personal opinion.

I don't believe you.

Oh, and a book called ‘One moment one morning’ a thriller where nothing happens and the main character spends the whole time banging on about how awful it is her rich husband has died when so many disgusting poor people and plebs are still alive.

Plus I gave it a bad review on Amazon and the author sent me a load of abuse for it.

Actually, as I am here. Totally believe weirdos not uncommon for sale of codeine to be denied.

"my flabber is still well and truly gasted by the person who said they weren't able to buy paracetamol for their 19 year old who didn't have ID. So how are you meant to buy Calpol for your 3 year old then?"

I remember this happening when I was about 19 and with my mum who was buying a bottle of wine - she was refused because I didn't have ID. I don't remember that happening in the supermarket every week when I was a child and they bought wine. It makes no sense!

You should have just lied Weirdoes, don't get the nice man in trouble by having the temerity to ask for meds in a chemists.

I was once asked to take part in a food tasting market research... I casually mentioned I was breastfeeding and was no longer allowed to participate... they couldn't give me a valid reason as to why breastfeeding mothers weren't allowed to eat food

Mammy I think you might win

Actually, as I am here. Totally believe weirdos not uncommon for sale of codeine to be denied.

It isn't uncommon but I don't believe that a pharmacist would ask what it was for and then state that she "could manage without".