Pregnancy indications

A problem with the vaccine is that administration of a live virus is contraindicated in pregnancy. Indications arc... 

Although fetal thyroid function does not commence until the equivalent of 12 weeks gestation in man, the presence of functional fetal nuclear receptors for T3 is noted in early pregnancy, indicating that triiodothyronine is exerting an action at this time (De Nayer and Dozin, 1989). 

A retrospective study of women who had used belladonna in the first trimester of pregnancy indicated that belladonna use was associated with malformations however, interpretation of data was difficult and no causality could be determined (Heinonen et al. 1977). 

A retrospective study of 554 women who had used belladonna in the first trimester of pregnancy indicated that belladonna was associated with eye and ear malformations, and also associated with increased risk of respiratory tract anomalies and hypospadias. The authors of the study indicated that interpretation of the data was difficult and that no causality could be determined. Among women who used belladonna any time in pregnancy, 1355 exposures were reported and no association with belladonna and malformations was observed in the group (Heinonen et al. 1977). 

A study on the administration of cayenne (2.75 mg capsaicin) daily for 5 days to rats during pregnancy indicated no adverse developmental effects on the fetus. Offspring of the rats showed a delayed response to acute heat stimuli. The authors of this study indicate that the compound capsaicin is capable of crossing the placental barrier (Pellicer et al. 1996). 

Limited information on the safety of cordyceps in pregnancy is available. One animal study of a cordyceps product in pregnancy indicated no adverse effects on maternal health or fetal development (Jing et al. 1987). 

An epidemiological study on use of mate during pregnancy indicated no adverse effects of mate on pregnancy duration or birth weight (Santos et al. 2005). 

A human study of flaxseed oil in pregnancy indicated no difference in delivery time as compared to a control group (Knudsen et al. 2006). 

In a survey of American nurse midwives, 30% of respondents indicated that they used evening primrose oil to stimulate labor (McFarlin et al. 1999). A retrospective study on evening primrose use during pregnancy indicated that oral administration of evening primrose oil... 

Observations of pregnant rats fed varying concentrations of valerian on days 1 through 8 of pregnancy indicated that the highest nontoxic dose of valerian was 2.8 g/kg. Doses above 2.8 g/kg resulted in reduced placental weight but not reduced birth weight as compared to control (Yao et al. 2003). 

These findings indicate definite effects of iodine deficiency on brain development in a primate model. The relative lack of effect in the first pregnancy indicates that severe iodine deficiency was necessary. 

Both water and alcoholic extracts have been reported to have a stimulating effect on the isolated guinea pig uterus, especially during the last period of pregnancy, indicating that... 

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