Warning signs during pregnancy to immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
During pregnancy, conditions often arise that require medical attention. Sometimes, when feeling unwell, it is difficult to know what to do: call an ambulance immediately or wait and make an appointment with your doctor. Sometimes such indecisiveness can lead to serious problems. In practice, there are a number of symptoms that cannot be ignored. Each of them can be a manifestation of pathology, in which it is necessary to immediately hospitalize the pregnant woman in a hospital. Let's look at these symptoms and associated pathologies.
What do papaverine suppositories represent?
During the period of bearing a child, situations often arise that require medical intervention. Papaverine is prescribed for severe uterine hypertonicity to prevent the threat of miscarriage. This is the most common reason for its appointment. Papaverine suppositories have long established themselves as a safe dosage form and are widely used in gynecology.
Papaverine improves a woman's well-being during pregnancy
Increased uterine tone can lead to termination of pregnancy. Timely treatment can avoid this.
Composition and effect of the drug
Papaverine is an antispasmodic drug. Its main property is the relief of muscle and blood vessel spasms. But its effect on the body is much broader:
- reduces muscle tension and relaxes the muscles of internal organs;
- improves blood circulation;
- smoothly reduces blood pressure;
- stabilizes heart rhythm.
One suppository contains 20 mg of the active ingredient - papaverine hydrochloride - and 2 g of semi-synthetic glycerides. In appearance, these are smooth, torpedo-shaped candles of white color.
Papaverine suppositories are administered rectally
Papaverine is also available in the form of tablets and solution for injection. All types of the drug are used for pregnant women, but each of them has its own nuances.
Use at different stages of pregnancy
Papaverine has not been studied in pregnant women, so there are no scientific research results on the effects of the substance on the woman and fetus. When prescribing this drug, doctors are based only on many years of experience in the use of Papaverine by pregnant women. Pregnant patients have been using the drug for more than 60 years, and there are no negative consequences.
Suppositories with papaverine are used at any stage of pregnancy:
- In the first trimester, the drug is prescribed in case of increased uterine tone. This condition can threaten a successful pregnancy, and Papaverine allows you to avoid an unfavorable scenario.
- In the second trimester, suppositories are most often used for abdominal pain and high blood pressure.
- In the third trimester, Papaverine is used to avoid the risk of premature birth, and its use during contractions reduces their pain.
Video: the uterus is toned during pregnancy
Causes of labor pain
According to many years of observations by doctors and data from physiologists, many women experience almost no pain during contractions and pushing, behave quite actively or can even sleep. This cannot be called a phenomenon, since the source of labor pain is based in the cerebral cortex and is often activated by fear or confidence that pain is about to come.
In fact, when psychological factors are eliminated, expectant mothers experience only a pulling sensation in the lumbar region, where the nerve node is located. It innervates all the endings responsible for the female internal organs. Also, unpleasant mild pain appears in the lower abdomen at the moments when contractions occur. The reasons that more than seventy percent of women experience severe pain during labor lie in the structure of the female body, a sedentary lifestyle and prejudice.
Scientists who studied the life of small peoples of the Amazon and the Far North, where signs of civilization are practically invisible, were amazed at the ease with which native women give birth to children. They work physically, quite hard, until the onset of contractions, then retire for a while and return with the child in their arms. There are no signs of suffering on their faces. This happens, according to researchers, due to physical activity and the lack of psychological impact on girls.
In the cultures of such peoples, the process of pregnancy and childbirth is perceived as a taken-for-granted act, to which no special significance is attached. And every girl knows from childhood that, just like her mother, aunts and sisters around her, she will become pregnant and give birth to a baby. Of course, if complications arise, the woman most often dies, but in those cultures death is an absolutely natural phenomenon that is not given much importance.
In civilized countries, girls are taught from childhood, on a subconscious level, from the TV screen and from the pages of books, that pregnancy and childbirth are fraught with many dangers and the process of giving birth to a child is accompanied by enormous pain. Added to this is the sedentary lifestyle of most women, overeating and chronic diseases. All these factors together create the preconditions for a painful birth.
Take the first step
make an appointment with a doctor!
Indications for use
Among the direct indications for the use of Papaverine are:
- threat of miscarriage due to uterine hypertonicity. It is this reason that is most often the basis for prescribing Papaverine during pregnancy;
- arterial hypertension. Thanks to the drug, the reduction in high blood pressure occurs gently, without creating a threat to the fetus;
- colic of various types (intestinal, renal, hepatic). In this case, the substance relaxes the excretory ducts that have undergone spasms, restoring the natural functions of the organ and relieving pain;
- bronchospasm. Thanks to the action of the drug, the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract relax and normal respiratory function is quickly restored;
- presence of high body temperature. In this case, papaverine can be used as part of a lytic mixture.
If during pregnancy you experience abdominal pain for 24 hours, immediately seek advice from a doctor, do not hesitate to ask him the most ridiculous questions in order to have all the necessary information about your condition.
Drug pain relief
For drug pain relief during childbirth, analgesia and anesthesia methods are used. They differ in that during analgesia they use drugs that only partially reduce pain, while during anesthesia the patient is completely anesthetized, often with the loss of motor functions and consciousness.
Analgesia is provided both during contractions and during childbirth, and anesthesia is most often used during a cesarean section, that is, during childbirth. Epidural anesthesia occupies a special place in this classification - it is used both to relieve pain during contractions and for anesthesia during childbirth or during surgery.
Take the first step
make an appointment with a doctor!
Contraindications and side effects
Papaverine has a number of contraindications. It cannot be prescribed in the following cases:
- heart rhythm disturbances, tachycardia;
- acute liver and kidney failure;
- presence of glaucoma;
- allergic reaction to the components of the drug;
- inflammatory process in the rectum.
There may be situations when the product should be used only after consultation with a specialist. These include:
- state of shock;
- head injuries;
- dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
- pituitary dysfunction.
The main side effects of the drug include:
- redness of the skin;
- the appearance of itching;
- feeling tired and drowsy due to the sedative effect of the drug;
- dizziness, darkening of the eyes when changing body position;
- heart failure, decreased blood pressure;
- discomfort in the abdominal area;
- nausea.
Such symptoms occur quite rarely . They can be avoided by using Papaverine under medical supervision.
Interaction with other drugs
When using the drug in parallel with other medications, you need to know how they combine. If Papaverine is taken together with barbiturates that depress the nervous system, the antispasmodic effect is enhanced. It is not recommended to combine it with medications that reduce the ability of brain cells to transmit nerve signals; this leads to increased effects. It is better to use Papaverine in combination with substances that have a similar effect.
Barbiturates, such as Corvalol (phenobarbital-based medicine), should be used with caution during pregnancy and only for medical reasons
Composition of the medicinal product
Papaverine belongs to the group of myotropic antispasmodics; the main active ingredient is papaverine hydrochloride. The product has a wide range of applications and is used to eliminate spasms of various types.
Before using the drug, you should carefully study the instructions for use. It describes that the medication has a fairly pronounced hypotonic effect. A decrease in blood pressure is often observed in girls in the first trimester, therefore the use of the composition may be contraindicated. The active substance also has a sedative and anesthetic effect.
Attention! Buscopan and Papaverine are drugs that are similar in action. They are used in the early stages of pregnancy to eliminate the tone of the uterus, and at the end of the third trimester - to soften it.
Usage algorithm
The advantages of the drug include its ease of use. After carefully reading the instructions, you can light the candles yourself. They are intended for rectal use.
Store the suppositories in the refrigerator to make them easier to administer.
Suppositories are used as follows:
- When starting the procedure, disinfect your hands or wear sterile gloves.
- Take a comfortable position (lying on your side or back).
- Gently insert the suppository into the anus, pushing it through the anus.
The dosage of the medicine is prescribed by the gynecologist. Most often, 20 mg of the drug is administered once three times a day with a break of 4 hours. Duration of use is about three weeks.
The prescribed course may vary depending on the patient’s well-being at the discretion of the doctor, who adjusts the duration of therapeutic use based on the existing symptoms and the period of pregnancy.
Absorption of the substance into the blood occurs in a short period. If it is necessary to quickly remove it, hemodialysis is used.
During my first pregnancy, at 3 months, I started having abdominal pain, and the gynecologist decided to hospitalize me. I had to stay in the hospital for three weeks due to uterine hypertonicity. I was prescribed Papaverine suppositories at night. The condition improved quite quickly. These suppositories relieved muscle tension and helped save the child. The pregnancy ended well. Now my son is already 12 years old.
General anesthesia
This type of anesthesia is usually performed only in case of surgery, while the patient is under anesthesia, unconscious and does not feel anything. During the operation, food or liquid from the mother's stomach may enter the lungs, so the expectant mother is not recommended to eat or drink anything during labor. You can only rinse your mouth if you are very thirsty. If doctors do not know whether the patient has eaten food, then during a cesarean section a special tube will be inserted into her trachea to protect her lungs. General anesthesia usually does not affect the child’s condition, since the drugs are administered directly in the operating room and usually very little time passes.
Whatever the reasons why a woman resorts to the use of pain relief during childbirth, she must certainly be informed about all possible complications and side effects of the drugs administered and their effect on the child’s body. It is unacceptable to use any type of anesthesia without the consent of the patient if she is conscious. The exception is emergency situations that threaten the life of the mother.
Possible substitutes
If the treatment does not bring the desired result, your doctor will prescribe other medications that have similar pharmacological properties to Papaverine. Everything here is individual: one remedy helps some, another helps others. These medications are approved for use by pregnant women:
- Spasmolysin suppositories eliminate pain caused by spasms. The active ingredient is drotaverine hydrochloride 40 mg, available in 5 suppositories in a blister. Suppositories are not prescribed for established sensitivity to the drug, problems with the functioning of the liver and kidneys. Apply rectally no more than three times during the day.
- No-spa is used for spastic pain. Produced in the form of tablets, suppositories and 40 mg solution. Single dose: 1-2 pieces three times a day. The medicine may cause weakness, rapid heartbeat, and decrease appetite.
- Drotaverine serves to dilate blood vessels and relieve headaches. A tablet form of the medication and a solution for injections are available. The drug is well tolerated, but allergic reactions and increased sweating may occur. When taken simultaneously with other antispasmodics, its therapeutic properties are enhanced. Drotaverine tablets are available with a substance content of 40 and 60 mg, 10 pieces per package.
Childbirth
Even if the expectant mother has been preparing for the onset of labor pains and looking forward to this moment, unexpected signs of impending labor can take her by surprise and cause panic.
You need to contact an ambulance when regular labor occurs or after the amniotic fluid breaks.
Regular labor contractions repeat every 10-15 minutes, last at least 10-15 seconds, and their intensity and frequency increase all the time. If regular contractions appear at least once every 15-10 minutes, with a frequency of 20-10 seconds, or your water breaks, you need to call an ambulance, and before they arrive, try to calm down and collect the necessary things.
Check the presence of all documents - exchange card, passport, birth certificate, insurance policy or birth contract.
While there is time, you need to collect or check the availability of things necessary in the maternity hospital - socks, diapers, postnatal pads, postnatal panties, towels, toilet paper. Hygiene products, a robe, slippers, a nightgown are usually given out there, but if they allow it, you can bring your own, a notepad and pen, bepanten cream, drinking water, a pack of cookies and of course, all the documents). To prepare for childbirth, a woman in labor needs to trim her nails, remove jewelry, remove hair, and remove hair from intimate areas. It is not recommended to eat; it is better to drink some tea, juice or compote.
