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Is It Safe To Inhale Camphor During Pregnancy?

Posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2015

Question: Hi I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I'll get cold often so inhaled camphor oil during pregnancy .It is not safe to use camphor oil during pregnancy and I have been inhaling for a month in a alternate days

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
possibly harmful to fetus.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.

Camphor use during pregnancy has been considered unsafe.
However, most of the data is available on oral uses of camphor in pregnancy.

Topical use or inhalation is said to be far less harmful then oral use. But there is no concrete evidence to this.

You are using camphor oil for inhalation since last one month (that is, since 36 weeks of pregnancy). By this period, most of the organ formation of baby is complete. So, there should be very low chances of risk to fetus.

However, you can go for an ultrasound examination (anomaly scan) to rule out any harmful effects of camphor on fetus.

try to avoid using camphor till you deliver.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (21 minutes later)

Oh my god My delivery date is next week .Can I wait till that to take scan or can I take now itself

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
depends on previous scan report.

Detailed Answer:
Please do not panic.

When did you have your last scan?
What was the report? normal?
Can you upload the scan report here?

This will be a guide for further investigation.

Waiting for your reply.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (38 minutes later)

I'm literally crying here doctor .I thought inhalation would not harm the fetus so only I have inhaled .Please tell me wat to do further .Attaching my 32 weeks growth scan and 25 weeks anamoly scan.I'm just one week for delivery but very much scared

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
scan reports are completely normal.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.

Please do not panic.
I have seen the ultrasound reports.
These are COMPLETELY NORMAL.
So, I think the baby should be healthy.
As I told you earlier, the organ formation of baby is complete by now, so the chances of harm to baby are very very low.

However, I would advise you to go for another ultrasound scan with color doppler.
This will ensure the health of baby at this stage.

Kindly reply back with these reports when you get it done.

DO NOT worry.

I wish good health to you and your baby.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (36 hours later)

Thanks will do it .I'm having severe burning sensation after urinate .Even though I diagnosed with bacteria in my urine culture and I took taxim 0 200 mg for 3 days and gentamicin syrenge for 3 days I'm still getting burning sensation when urinate .What is the reason behind it even after taking treatment

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
extended course of antibiotics for 7 days.

Detailed Answer:
Your welcome.

In some cases of UTI, the treatment has to given for longer time like seven days. Talk to your doctor about this.

Other than drugs, some home remedies and behavioral methods can help you in UTI;

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Wipe front-to-back after urinating or defecating.
3. Wash hands before and after using the toilet.
4. Use liquid soap to prevent colonization from bar soap.
5. Clean the urethral opening first when bathing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar