Article for discussion: Feb 6-12, 2006

Hi all,
You may have noticed in our monthly email that went out this week that we have a new section on OHBaby! called "Articles for Discussion". Each week we will choose a recent article on some aspect of pregnancy, parenting, family etc. and post it here. Then you can all give your opinions, questions etc. on this thread.

There are so many new studies being done and such a wealth of information out there that it can be difficult to sortout what is fact, what is fiction, and what are the best choices for your family.

We hope that Articles for Discussion will give you something to think about.

And if anyone has an article they would like to recommend for a coming week, email it to me at baby@ohbaby.co.nz and we'll get it up!

"New Zealand Pharmaceutical Society spokesman Euan Galloway said the research showed the importance of patients checking with their pharmacist before self-medicating, to ensure the medicine was right for them."

I think that ibuprofen is fine to be sold in supermarkets etc. People that don't follow the advice of pharmacists or refuse to get advice while pregnant are the ones that are going to be taking far more than ibuprofen anyway. One of the first things I was told when I found out I was pregnant was that I shouldn't be talking anything more than paracetamol and nurofen was a no-go. Up until then I had been taking Nurofen-Plus!

Providing people are made aware that ibuprofen is not safe during pregnancy then I am sure that people will use their judgement when taking it.

As far as legal risk to the company goes, I'm pretty sure being able to prove that ibuprofen causes any particular miscarriage is slim to none.

I wonder if limiting it to Pharmacy only is enough? Maybe it should be prescription only? Or at least you haveto ask the pharmacist to get it, that way they can give you all the warnings.
Sounds like a pain in the butt, but some people don't read the directions and put themselves at risk.

Heidi and I were just talking further, and we were wondering... do you think it's possible that if a woman took an ibrufen-based product in the early stages of pregnancy (ie, before she knew she was pregnant) it could be a contributing factor to a miscarriage before 6 weeks?

my midwife tried to give me ibuprofen after i had jake even though my notes said i was allergic. it gives me asthma attacks!!(not my reg. m/w btw)

Hrmmmm... do you think that instead of making it a pharmacy only drug that an advertising campaign would do the trick? I just know I couldn't survive without nurofen if I was getting my usual amount of headaches.

I'm also terrible when it comes to drugs as I or my family have little to no allergies/reactions so I'm not very aware of the effects they have on some people. Apologies for being ignorant

Im finding this all very interesting!! Hehe

I get migranes quite often (being about 4 - 5 a year!) and the only way I have known and been told (by my Dr) is to take 2 Panadol and 2 nurofen as they are 2 different types of drugs - yet I went and brought both at the chemist a month or so ago and they told me I can't take them together as they clash... Must do research I think.

Nurofen (or ibuprofen medication) - should be a "Pharmicist-only" medication as Emma said - they ask you all these questions and you have to fill out a little form and show your ID... kind of like Telfast and those "P" making drugs nowdays!!

I know - it's stupid that you go to the Dr for advice but end up getting the "correct" meds advice at the pharmacy. I now go to the Pharmacy 1st and talk to the pharmacist and then if I have to I go to the Dr!

Went to the supermarket today and they had nurofen at the checkout by the conveyer belts - seemed stupid to me as they have chocolates etc there for "impulse" buyers - looks like they are tapping into that for meds too now.

What is this world coming too??