No, you should stay away from homeopathic products while you’re pregnant. Although reported side effects of homeopathic medicines are rare, the bottom line is that there is little scientific data to back up the safety of these drugs in pregnant women.
Allopathic (also known as Western or conventional) medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter, are subjected to rigorous investigation by the FDA and given a pregnancy-class rating. The spectrum ranges from Category A drugs (considered to be safe) through Category X (don’t take under any circumstances). Homeopathic medicines also are regulated by the FDA, but because they contain little or no active ingredients, they aren’t subjected to the same testing protocols. “In many cases we don’t really know what is in these products,” cautions Hilda Hutcherson, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center and the author of What Your Mother Never Told You About S-e-x. “My feeling is that until a study shows that something is absolutely safe to use in pregnancy, it’s best to avoid it.”
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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