Examples of available services
- Initiation of certain medical therapies such as the prescription of vitamin supplements (e.g., folic acid) to prevent deficiencies of essential elements for mother and newborn.*
- Review of the list of medications that you take daily or even occasionally, to make sure they are safe for you.
- Recommendation of the best contraception to use, depending on if you are breastfeeding or planning another pregnancy.
- Prescription of medication for nausea and vomiting, until you can see your doctor.
- Breastfeeding support and advice
- How to promote milk production (e.g., Domperidone**)
- How to deal with the discomfort of cracked nipples and engorged breasts (lanoline, hydrogel, etc.), and other issues
Folic acid
In the event you are planning to get pregnant, it is important to take a multivitamin that contains folic acid three months prior to the pregnancy, and continue taking it until six weeks thereafter, or as long as you breastfeed. It prevents neural tube defects and several other malformations. Your pharmacist will be able to help you with this medication, but if you have a chronic disease, it is best to see your doctor first.
Things to avoid
Certain medications and natural products, including those available over-the-counter, should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding because they can be harmful to the fetus and its development as well as to your milk (change the taste, lower production, undesirable effects on the baby, etc.). It is therefore essential to consult your pharmacist before using, or stopping the use of these products and especially let them know how things are going during your visits to the pharmacy. Even though many products are safe for pregnant women and breastfed babies, your pharmacist will be able to suggest appropriate alternatives. If you absolutely must take a medication, it is always best to take it immediately after breastfeeding.
The following are examples of over-the-counter medications and supplements that should be avoided:
ibuprofen (headache and pain) naproxen (anti-inflammatory), salicylic acid (headache), pseudoephedrine/phenylephrine (cold, cough, allergies, etc.) ginseng, licorice, passionflower, hops, linen, camomile, black cohosh, ginkgo biloba, all essential oils for internal use, etc.
It is also important to stop drinking, smoking, or consuming drugs throughout your pregnancy and while you breastfeed. However, if you wish to stop smoking, be sure to see your pharmacist or doctor for their advice and support.
Don’t hesitate to talk to your Accès pharma chez Walmart-affiliated pharmacist about any questions you may have about this service. Also see our “My Healthy Pregnancy” section for even more information.
*If the pharmacy is officially authorized by a collective regional prescription written by a doctor, which is the case for most Accès pharma chez Walmart-affiliated pharmacies.
**FYI! Even though it is commonly used to promote milk production, the primary function of domperidone is to treat gastrointestinal problems. The manufacturer therefore does not approve of this use, though it remains very frequent and is effective in the first days of use.
