DR. RIA MASLOG
MEDICAL INSIDER

Maternal Medications and the Baby

Medications given to the mother may have adverse effects on
the fetus. The first 12 weeks of life is the most crucial period
since this is the period of organogenesis. So any drugs given
that are not safe may cause fetal malformations.
The following are the commonly used drugs with possible
effects on the fetus and newborns:

  1. Aspirin – hemorrhage, premature closure of ductus
    arteriosus and pulmonary artery hypertension
  2. Codeine- neonatal drug withdrawal
  3. Ibuprofen – reduced amniotic fluid volume
  4. General anesthesia- respiratory depression of infants at
    delivery
  5. Lidocaine- high serum levels causes CNS depression
  6. Aminoglycosides – ototoxicity
  7. Isoniazid- risk for folate deficiency
  8. Metronidazole – potential teratogen
  9. Tetracycline – yellow brown staining and carries of teeth
  10. Sulfonamides- may cause kernicterus
  11. Phenobarbital – hemorrhagic diseases
  12. Phenytoin – hemorrhagic diseases, fetal hydantoin
    syndrome growth and mental deficiency, abnormal facie,
    hypoplasia of distal phalanges
  13. Valproic acid – meningomyelocele, facial and cardiac
    anomalies
  14. Warfarin – hypoplastic nose, mental deficiencies
  15. Antineoplastics drugs – cleft palate, hydrocephalus,
    growth retardation, cardiovascular and digital anomalies
  16. Antithyroid drugs- hypothyroidism
  17. Cardiovascular and antihypertensive drugs – neonatal
    bradycardia, hypoglycaemia
  18. Diuretics – increases fetal urinary sodium and potassium,
    thrombocytopenia
  19. Hormonal drugs – genital tract anomalies, increased rate
    of premature delivery in future pregnancy, increased
    incidence of clear cell adenocarcinoma
  20. Sedatives, tranquilizers – cardiac anomalies, limb
    reduction, hemorrhage
  21. Social and illicit drugs – A. Alcohol: fetal alcohol
    syndrome; B. Amphetamines: withdrawal, prematurity,
    decreased birth weight and head circumference C.
    Cocaine: decreased birth weight, microcephaly,
    prematurity, stillbirth, cerebral hemorrhage; D. Heroin: –
    low birth weight, – behavioral disturbances; E. Marijuana:
    decreased fetal growth, increased incidence of acute
    nonlymphoblastic leukemia in childhood; F. Tobacco
    smoking: decreased birth weight, increased prematurity
    rate, increased premature rupture of membranes,
    placental abruption and placenta previa, increased fetal
    death
  22. Tocolytics- respiratory depression and neonatal
    hypoglycaemia
  23. Vitamins – A. Vitamin A – excessive doses are
    teratogenic; B. Vit D – hypercalcemia; C. Vit K –
    hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus; D. Isotrenitoin – ear,
    cardiac, CNS and thymic anomalies
    So, it is but best that all expectant women should be under the
    care of an OB-Gyne specialist to avoid any untoward intake of
    medications that could potentially harm the fetus and the
    newborn.