Should I Take This Pill When Pregnant?

What medicines are safe for pregnant mothers to take? LOO PEI FEN asks the experts.

Most women are extra careful during pregnancy, and load up on supplements, stick a good diet, drink lots of fluids and take time out to engage in light exercise. But despite the best intentions, you may still find yourself falling ill during your pregnancy.

Ashley Aw-Ratnam, 31, found herself in a sickly situation a year ago when she was six months pregnant. “I had been as healthy as a horse up till my sixth month, and I woke up one morning with the worst case of flu ever. I had a massive headache and a painful cough. I also felt very dizzy and nearly tripped over myself the moment I got out of bed,” she recalls.

Ashley panicked at the first sign of dizziness, and it took two trips to her gynaecologist and regular general practitioner before she fully recovered. “It was the most horrendous bout of flu in all my 30 years, and I was so relieved my baby came out fine after all,” she says.

Most health professionals agree that due to a compromised immune system, pregnant women should take precautions before they fall ill. This includes getting lots of rest, taking plenty of fluids and staying away from sick people and environments.

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