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Medication during low-risk pregnancy
P C de Jong1, W S Nijdam, G A Zielhuis
1Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Summary
Pregnant individuals under obstetrician care used more medications than those with midwives. Common drugs included analgesics, antacids, vitamins, antibiotics, and dermatologic preparations, warranting further risk assessment for offspring.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Pharmacology in Pregnancy
Background:
- Medication use is common during pregnancy, but data on low-risk pregnancies vary.
- Supervision by specialist obstetricians versus midwives may influence prescribing patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare medication usage in low-risk pregnancies managed by obstetricians versus midwives.
- To identify the most frequently used medications in these cohorts.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 332 women under specialist obstetrician care and 250 women under midwife care.
- Data collection on medication use during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Obstetrician-supervised women used significantly more medications (87.7%) compared to midwife-supervised women (59.8%).
- Top medications included analgesics, antacids, vitamins, antibiotics, and dermatologic preparations.
Conclusions:
- Care setting and provider type impact medication prescribing during low-risk pregnancy.
- Further research is essential to understand the potential risks of commonly used medications on offspring development.