Nexium is safe to use during pregnancy

During pregnancy, women often develop acid reflux, heartburn or GERD, necessitating the use of Nexium or other proton pump inhibitors. Because it's necessary to be cautious about medication use when pregnant, women often have questions regarding the safety of PPIs for their fetus.

Pregnancy and acid reflux
Why are acid reflux and heartburn so common during pregnancy? There could be many causes, but experts think that increased progesterone and other hormones during pregnancy cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, releasing stomach acid and partially digested food back into the esophagus. Others suggest that GERD is common during the second and third trimesters, even for women who haven't had a problem with it before, because as the uterus grows, more pressure is applied to the stomach. Pregnant women, like the rest of the population, can also fall prey to fatty, spicy and acidic foods that, when ingested in abundance, can cause uncomfortable heartburn and reflux.

Recent research
In a March 2012 study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, researchers at Ben Gurion University, maternal use of PPIs during the first trimester was not associated with higher rates of congenital malformations, and the use of PPIs during the third trimester did not increase a baby's risk of being born premature, having lower birth weight, having lower Apgar scores or dying soon after or just before birth.

Proton pump inhibitors
PPIs are the strongest medication on the market for treating GERD. They work by stopping the release of acid, giving the esophagus time to heal. PPIs like Nexium are for use when someone has an ongoing stomach acid problem, rather than just occasional heartburn.

Additional evidence
Similar to the other study, a meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Toronto, published in the April 2009 edition of The American Journal of Gastroenterology, found that PPIs are safe to use during pregnancy. Analyzing seven other studies, scientists found no increased risk for spontaneous abortion, serious congenital birth defects or premature birth with maternal use of PPIs.

So, one can conclude that the use of Nexium is beneficial for women with severe GERD during pregnancy.

If a woman is pregnant and suffering from GERD, she should see her doctor, who can provide her with a prescription for Nexium after ruling out any drug interactions. Prescriptions can be filled at a Canadian online pharmacy to reduce costs.