Can You Take Water Pills While Pregnant? Is it Safe For Unborn?

I struggled with recurring high blood pressure for months during my third pregnancy. When my doctor prescribed water pills, my gynecologist wasn’t for it, citing safety reasons.

While doctors have been prescribing water pills since the 1960s, there’s contradicting information regarding their safety during pregnancy. So, can you take water pills while pregnant? Are they safe for you and your munchkin?

In this blog post, I’ll talk about water pills, their usage in pregnancy, risks, and non-medical remedies for managing preeclampsia.

Take a look.

Can You Take Water Pills While Pregnant?

You can take specific water pills during pregnancy on prescription only.

However, take caution as some studies recommend against such medication due to the risk of decreased plasma volume in pregnant women. Other studies link water pills to neonatal thrombocytopenia.

Talk to your doctor and weigh the gains against the risks before taking water pills. Also commonly referred to as diuretics, these drugs work by causing the kidney to remove more urine to ridding your body of excess fluids and salt (sodium ).

Once the fluids in your body reduce, the heart is left with a more straightforward job of pumping blood, hence reducing pressure in return. You’re likely to notice frequent urination when on water pills. Whether before, during, or after pregnancy, diuretics were among the first prescription medications to control blood pressure. This begs the question, “can I take water pills while pregnant?”

While the use of water pills has reduced over the years, doctors still prescribe them as a last resort for managing stubborn blood pressure. The question of if diuretics are safe or not during pregnancy is still a topic under research.

More experts prefer a change in diet and lifestyle as an effective remedy for preeclampsia. However, this treatment requires total commitment and patience for the best results. Remember, medications are not highly recommended in pregnant women unless necessary.

Is My Baby Safe If I Take Water Pills During Pregnancy?

As long as your doctor examines and prescribes diuretics, taking water pills while pregnant is most likely safe. Previously, studies associated thiazide diuretics with low platelet count in babies (neonatal thrombocytopenia). However, a more recent National Center for Biotechnology Information study found women who took water pills without a higher risk of preterm births or pregnancy loss.

That said, it’s best to keep you and the baby safe. Since the studies for or against these medications had factual backup, ask your general practitioner about other approved preeclampsia medicine. This is to avoid doubts and confusion about your safety when using water pills.

What Are Types Of Pregnancy-Safe Diuretics?

Depending on your health situation, your doctor can prescribe several types of diuretics. They include:

Thiazide water pills – These medications are commonly used during the first trimester. They include hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide and Chlorothiazide. Thiazides work to remove moderate water for a longer time. They are often prescribed with other medications to treat edema and blood pressure effectively.
Loops – Doctors may recommend loops for treating emergency preeclampsia. Furosemide is the popularly used loop in pregnancy for treating pulmonary edema and severe hypertension.
Potassium-sparing diuretics – These water pills prevent potassium loss as the kidneys expel sodium and fluids. Your nerves and muscles need this electrolyte more during pregnancy. Unlike other diuretics, potassium-sparing types, such as triamterene, are weaker and often not prescribed as a single drug.

If you’re still thinking, “is it ok to take water pills while pregnant?” worry not. The doctor’s examination will dictate which diuretic or combination is safest for you.

Side Effects Of Taking Water Pills During Pregnancy

After answering the question, “can pregnant women take water pills” let’s find out what to expect after their consumption. Like other medicines, water pills have side effects that may affect your daily functioning. Some possible side effects include:

Frequent urination – When the kidney removes water and fluids, they become urine, causing an urge to urinate constantly.
Tiredness/ fatigue or weakness – As the body adapts to medication, you will likely feel weaker and tired often. Fatigue should improve gradually over time.
Dizziness/lightheadedness – The decrease in body fluids will likely cause headaches, lightheadedness, and dizziness. Dizziness could result from blood pressure dropping too low.

Dehydration – If you notice yellowish urine, dry mouth, and insatiable thirst. These are signs of acute dehydration which need medical attention.
Nausea and vomiting – Some water pills cause low potassium levels, which may worsen nausea and vomiting.
Diabetes – Sometimes, water pills could tamper with the system controlling blood sugar. This could put you at risk of diabetes.
Muscle cramps – Diuretics may leave you with too little or excessive potassium and sodium. This may cause muscle cramps.
Calcium deficiency – While thiazides reduce calcium excretion, loops worsen it, resulting in low calcium levels. Calcium deficiency impairs the development of a baby’s bones/teeth, nerves, muscles, and heart functions.

Are There Non-Medical Remedies For Preeclampsia?

Yes. Pregnant women can manage high blood pressure depending on the severity using at-home remedies. While the methods are effective, I didn’t say your regular blood pressure medications aren’t helpful anymore. Continue using them unless your general practitioner says otherwise.

Some non-medical preeclampsia remedies include:

1. Mind your salt intake – When it is high, you overwork the kidneys and heart as they try to create a sodium-water balance. Reducing salty diets is one way of curbing preeclampsia.

2. Stay hydrated – Dehydration causes your body to release vasopressin. Aside from helping your kidney to retain water, this chemical increases blood pressure by constricting vessels. Take lots of healthy fluids and water to curb this problem.

3. Mind your sleeping/resting posture – Sleep or rest on your left side to avoid harming major blood vessels.

4. Tweak your diet accordingly – A proper diet is crucial in improving many health conditions.

Increase protein-rich foods like beans and white meat in your diet. Such proteins contain amino acids that make up healthy blood.
Include foods rich in fiber and antioxidants as part of your diet. Fibers are effective in lowering blood pressure.
Take lots of raw or ground garlic and beetroot juice to stabilize blood pressure.
Take green, leafy vegetables and fruits to boost iron in your body.
Calcium-rich foods like dairy, curd, soya milk, and whole cereals benefit hypertensive pregnant mothers. These foods will also help you keep a PH Balance during your pregnancy..

5. Maintain a healthy pregnancy weight – Regulating pregnancy weight is crucial in curbing high blood pressure. Staying active and eating right effectively limit excessive weight gain that could worsen preeclampsia.

6. Exercise regularly – Physical activities help boost blood circulation, reduce oxidative stress, and burn bad cholesterol, which could block blood vessels. According to the American Heart Association, exercises may improve pregnancy outcomes in preeclampsia patients by reducing the prevalence of these associated diseases.

Wrapping Up

Experts recommend taking medicine cautiously during pregnancy; water pills aren’t an exception. That said, can you take water pills while pregnant?

Some prescription water pills/diuretics are harmless to you and your baby, but let your doctor advise you.

The use of diuretics in pregnancy is associated with side effects like dehydration, body weakness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

Depending on the severity of preeclampsia, include home remedies in your treatment plan. Tweak your diet to include more proteins, fiber, and iron. Exercises promote heart health too.

For effective management of high blood pressure, visit your doctor for regular checkups and proper treatment.