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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

I've been so stupid!!!

10 replies

stylostar · 05/08/2012 14:09

I'm so worried, I temporarily forgot I'm 11 weeks pregnant and just used Dr Scholl's freeze away wart remover. It blatantly says in capitals DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY. I've just googled the risks and got some mixed results. It mainly says don't use because the product affects people in pregnancy differently- what does that mean?

Any reassurance that haven't just badly damaged by unborn child is really needed right now. I keep telling myself that I can't live in a bubble for the next 6 months and I'm sure we all do things we shouldn't do without necessarily knowing about it until afterwards but how could I have been so stupid! ARRGGHHHH...

OP posts:
MayimBialik · 05/08/2012 14:28

They have to put that so you don't use it repetitively which, even if you did, probably wouldn't cause any damage but they have to cover themselves. A one off will be fine! Relax!

I assume your scan is not far off so just forget about it now (I know this is easier said and done and believe me you will probably do a million more things that you worry about during the course of your pregnancy - I'm 27 weeks and I reckon there's something every day that I think "oh shit I shouldn't have done that") and in a couple of weeks at your scan you will see that all is fine Smile

DoIgetastickerforthat · 05/08/2012 14:38

If it's not specifically liscenced for pregnancy then they have to put that. It's unlikely to contain anything that could cross the placenta and it is probably more to do with how you would react to it as skin can be more sensitive.

It will be fine but ring NHS direct or ask a pharmacist if you need reassurance.

EarnestDullard · 05/08/2012 14:49

Does it say that? Oops. I've used it about 5 times in this pregnancy because I didn't want to use the chemical ones. I asked the GP about my verruca and I'm sure he said they could freeze it off at the surgery, so I assumed the over the counter one would be safe too.

I'm not a medical professional but I did used to work in scientific research, and as far as I know the liquid nitrogen just freezes the skin at the surface, it's not like a chemical treatment that sits on the skin and is absorbed into your bloodstream. And if it's any reassurance, I'm 31w now and have a healthy baby kicking away.

I'm sure one treatment won't have done your baby any harm, but it might be best to check with a GP or midwife first if you need to use it again. And I'll take my own advice on that too Blush

NatashaBee · 05/08/2012 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thumbwitch · 05/08/2012 14:58

Just had a quick google for you and it would appear that the risk factor lies in the salicylic acid/salicylate that may be in the wart remover (it's a common ingredient) - this is the same as the active ingredient in aspirin.

However - despite it being common knowledge that you shouldn't take aspirin in pregnancy, I have been recommended to take it in early pregnancy (at 100mg dose per day) because of a clotting condition I have - so I would think that the tiny amount that would get into your bloodstream from the wart remover wouldn't exceed that dose and you and your baby will be fine. :)

Thumbwitch · 05/08/2012 15:00

On googling a bit more, it says that the ingredients are propane and dimethyl ether, so no salicylate - so that's one less thing to even think about. :)

jen6jen · 05/08/2012 15:14

I have psoriasis and when I asked my doc if I was safe to keep using my scalp solution through my last pg I was told it was fine....when I was 20 weeks I got a call from the chemists saying that because it was steroid based it wasn't recommended for use in pg and I had to stop using it straight away and use an alternative. I panicked 4 the rest of the pg that it would have damaged the baby but he was born perfect beautiful and very healthy. He's now 2 and has developed perfectly normally. Try not to worry. Jen x

AKMD · 05/08/2012 15:39

You and the baby will be fine. Lots of drug products have 'do not use in pregnancy' stamped on them because it is extremely hard to perform ethical clinical trials on pregnant women so they have never been tested. For most drugs, the risk is minimal.

Original poster
stylostar · 05/08/2012 16:31

Thanks guys! At least I've learnt a valuable lesson in reading the packaging first! Part of the problem is that I just don't feel pregnant, haven't had any symptoms except tiredness so it's hard to remember sometimes that I'm not just looking after myself! Hopefully it will be ok, I don't know why I panicked so much, didn't panic like this about cleaning out the cat litter before I knew! It'll be another worry next week...

OP posts:
Zipitydooda · 05/08/2012 16:39

I had repeated freezing treatment for verrucas on my foot while pregnant and chiropodist said it was fine. The stuff you do at home is probably less intense than this as well. I also used the paint on stuff.
Incidentally, my outcrop of verruccas only got worse and worse while pregnant and I stopped treatment planning to have an operation once my baby was born but they all disappeared by themselves by the time my baby was 6 weeks with no treatment whatsoever. So I think part of the reason they don't advise use during pregnancy is the fact that your autoimmune system is not performing normally and the treatment is ineffective.

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