Ibuprofen

[Gingerlady123]

Just realised I've had about four doses of ibuprofen during the first trimester. Im 12 plus 4 today. Have I done any harm?
I didn't realise I couldn't take it. I had a nuchal fold of 5mm last week which can mean a heart defect and taking this can cause a heart defect

Bless you Ginger. I've seen your other posts and I can tell you suffer with anxiety like me. Try not to panic about everything. Easier said than done... I know. I wouldn't worry about this at all. Before I realised I was pregnant I had a few alcoholic drinks and had taken some ibuprofen. In the scheme of things this will not matter. Xxxx

Thanks.
I didn't even know we couldn't take it until today. Not something I would of thought about.
Last time I took one was three days ago.
Just hope baby is ok, scan tomorrow hoping nt has gone down :)
Hope your ok

Thank you. Hope your scan goes well. Because I suffer with anxiety I didn't even want to know by NT measurement but the midwife support told me it anyway. It's within the normal range... I opted out of the further tests. I knew whatever my result was it wouldn't be good enough to put my mind at rest so I opted not to know. I'm 31 so not in a high risk category so figured I will hope and pray I have a healthy baby. My anxieties are to do with my own health so I will be so happy and grateful to hold my baby in a few months time. I hope things go well for you Ginger and try not to worry. Make time for yourself and do nice things xx

Ibuprofen is more of a problem in the later stages of pregnancy. It doesn't cause defects with how the heart is formed as such but before baby is born, as the blood is oxygenated from the placenta not the lungs, there is a little blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus which helps some of the blood bypass the lungs, this duct usually closes soon after birth so the circulation changes from the in utero circulation and all the blood goes through the lungs to get oxygenated.
Sometimes, particularly in preterm babies, the duct doesn't close after the baby is born. We know that ibuprofen encourages the duct to close after the baby is born, we often use it as treatment to make the duct close. So the worry is if you use it in the later stages of pregnancy it could encourage the duct to close too early which would put pressure on the circulatory system before the baby is born
The occasional dose early in pregnancy won't have caused any problems.