Q: Please, I’m 5months pregnant and went for antenatal registration last week. I was given folic acid, Vit C, B complex, Calcium, Ferrous as well as Daraprim. I was told to take all the drugs twice daily except Daraprim to be taken once a week. The problem is that 3 of my colleagues who are also pregnant said they were told in their hospitals not to take calcium daily as it makes babies too strong and in turn makes labour pains severe. And secondly they said they were also told not to take Daraprim for reasons they didn’t disclose. Please what are the functions of these drugs and how to take them? As I have called my nurse and she insists I do as she has said.

Thanks

A: Hi dear, congratulations on your pregnancy.
I am worried though at the half-information and even wrong information being given out by medical personnel. They are medical personnel, right? Your medical personnel owe you the duty of explaining the reasons behind any prescribed treatment. You have a right to know. That’s how you can get involved in your treatment (and health) and also provide information that helps this process.

Moving on…

Calcium is important in pregnancy so your baby can develop healthy bones and teeth. If you don’t take enough in your diet, then your baby, being a perfect parasite, helps himself/herself to calcium from your bones leaving you with brittle bones (osteoporosis). So, it’s important to eat enough calcium-rich foods (milk and other dairy foods. Other sources include green leafy vegetables, beans, oranges, iceberg lettuce). If your doctor believes that you’re not getting enough from food, he may put you on calcium supplements. Now, taking calcium supplements certainly gives your baby strong bones and teeth (I guess that’s the ‘making baby strong’ bit?) but does not make labour pains more severe.

Daraprim (active ingredient: pyrimethamine) was previously used to prevent malaria. But more recently, Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (Fansidar) has become the mainstay of preventing malaria especially in pregnant women who live in malaria endemic regions (Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy). So, I find the prescription of Daraprim a bit curious.

Now, I suggest, you book an appointment to see an obstetrician who will examine you properly and then prescribe your antenatal drugs based on findings.

Take care of yourself and your baby.

Have a good night everyone 😀