HOW SOME DRUGS ADVERSELY AFFECT FETAL DEVELOPMENT

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It is every pregnant woman’s dream to have a healthy baby who has no birth defects. Unfortunately, there are times this dream does not come to pass. There are a number of things that can negatively affect the development of a fetus (baby in the womb) which is beyond the control of parents. But sometimes, the actions of pregnant women can be responsible for these negative outcomes. An example is the type of medicine taken during pregnancy. Some medicines have the potential to harm the developing fetus.

One of such medicines is Chloramphenicol. This drug can cause serious blood disorders and gray baby syndrome. Gray baby syndrome is characterized by, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension and a grayish discolouration of the skin.

Ciprofloxacin can cause defects in the   baby’s muscle and poor skeletal growth. This is known as arthropathy.

Codeine and Diazepam can lead to withdrawal symptoms in newborns. When the baby is born, they can have difficulty suckling. They can also be drowsy.

Aspirin, Diclofenac, Naproxen and Ibuprofen can cause premature closing of the fetal ductus arteriosus. An important artery which needs to remain open to ensure that blood circulation in the fetus is optimum. These drugs can also cause jaundice and bleeding in both mother and the baby/fetus.

Warfarin can cause birth defects such as malformed bones as well as low birth weight, intellectual disability and deafness.

Lisinopril can result in long term damage to the baby’s kidneys and can cause poor development of the baby's lungs.

Tetracyclines are contraindicated in pregnancy because of the risk of liver toxicity in the mother, the potential for permanent discoloration of teeth in the fetus (yellow or brown in appearance), as well as impairment of fetal long bone growth.

So, it is very important to be mindful of what drug you take in during pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you are unwell and desist from self-medication

Dr Angela Amponsah-Kodua

Clinical pharmacist.

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