Methyl Salicylate

[audrey]

I'm 36 weeks preganant and 2 days ago used metsal cream (about 1 cm) for my leg which contains methyl salicylate (28.3%).

Only the day after i found out that the ingredient may be harmful for the fetus. Yesterday my baby didn't move as much as the days before.

Is there anything I can do, has the damage been done? Or am I just overreacting?

Thanks,
Audrey

[Alan]

Hi Audrey

Don't worry hun I am sure that you have not done any harm. The amount of cream you used is very small and your baby is just about fully developed.
One reason that your baby is not moving as much now is that it is running out of room. Another reaon that you think that your baby is not moving as much is because you used the cream.
i woulg suggest that you dont use any more Metsal cream. If you need something you could try Deep Heat.

Againj trry not to worry, everything will be fine.

[Michaela]

Dear Alan,

My name is Michaela and I am newly registered on this website.

A couple of days ago my mum gave me a massage on the back of my neck and a bit on the shoulders with Deep Heat Arthritis cream, which contains methyl salicylate - I was feeling tired and i had sore muscles. I do not have arthritis.
I was very concerned, though, about the effects this very strong cream might have on the baby and I went and washed it off after approx 8 hours. I am 23 weeks pregnant and it is my first pregnancy. The baby moves and is very energetic as usual, nothing seems to have changed since the massage with this cream - we are going to have a little girl.
I browsed on the internet for information about the possible effects on the baby and on this products' ( Deep Heat Arthritis ) webpage i found the following, which really worried me:

"Pregnant animals given high oral or dermal doses of methyl salicylate has resulted in malformations in some off-spring. The significance of this finding for humans is not known at this time, however, pregnant women should consult their medical practitioner if they have concerns."

I haven't used the cream since, but I am very worryed that the small amount my mum used on me might have reached the baby.

Thank you, Michaela

Hi Audrey

Don't worry hun I am sure that you have not done any harm. The amount of cream you used is very small and your baby is just about fully developed.
One reason that your baby is not moving as much now is that it is running out of room. Another reaon that you think that your baby is not moving as much is because you used the cream.
i woulg suggest that you dont use any more Metsal cream. If you need something you could try Deep Heat.

Againj trry not to worry, everything will be fine.

[Alan]

Hi Michaela
It is true that methyl salicylate in high doses has been known to cause malformations in animals.
However these animals were given very high doses by mouth. The dose you was given was applied to the skin and not a high dose. When medication is absorbed through the skin it takes a lot longer to reach the blood stream and will not be present in the same amount as it would be if it was taken orally. The reason that it is not reccomended for use in pregnancy is because it has not been proven to be safe. However it has also not been proven to be unsafe. i am sure that the amount you have been exposed to will not have any effect on your baby. I would advise you not to use it in the future just to be on the safe side.

[Michaela]

Thank you, Alan, i will definitely stay away from any form of medication in the future, in any case I will contact my doctor first, as I have been really worried this time.

[Michaela]

Dear Alan,

I don't know if this topic has been discussed before, but i have used a retinol based moisturizer and I am really worried about this now.

We all know that we have to stay away from vitamin A ( scientiffically called retinol ) during pregnancy and whilst I knew that very well, i wasn't aware that the moisturizer I was using during the first three months of my pregnancy contained vitamin A ( retinol ) . I didn't know that it contained retinol as I didn't know vitamin A is called retinol. I remember using this cream for about a month during the first trimester, night and day, on my face skin.

I am worried that this might have affected the baby ( I am 26 weeks pregnant now ) and it is my first baby. The morfology scan that I had at 19 weeks showed that everything was normal with the baby, but I cannot stop worrying.
Do you know anything about how this can affect the fetus?

Thank you,
Michaela

[juleswa]

My DH has got a really bad shoulder at the moment so I give him a rub with Dencorub last night (that turned out to be out of date) just before bed - so went to bed with him smelling like Dencorub, and then gave him a rub with Deep Heat today.

I would imagine my exposure would be minimal as it was only on my hands for probably about half an hour, but then smelling it most of the night.

Alan - would love a bit of reassurance it's ok. Maybe coincidence, but my usually active bubs is unusually quiet today (i'm 30 weeks). I'm telling my paranoid brain everything is fine, but..........

sorry

[audrey]

Thank you Alan,

I thought i was going out of my mind. After 36 weeks and now i've done something really stupid.

[audrey]

I think what i meant to say was, you make me feel so much better. : ) Thank you.

[Michaela]

Hi, i am craving soft drinks, i wasn't a big fan before, but now I am really craving Coca Cola !! Especially the vanilla flavoured one !
Does anyone know if soft drinks have a harmful effect on the baby? I am 24 weeks pregnant.

thanks, Michaela

[jenniebailey]

Dear Alan
I just found i am 3-4 weeks pregnant and am terrified that I have harmed my baby, I had no idea that i was pregnant, and was delighted to find out I am, but then i did some researching on the internet, I am a physio and sometimes do some work for a local rugby club, which i did approximately 2 weeks into my pregnancy before I knew, alot of this work involves pre match warm up rubs which uses deep heat along with massage milk, I wash my hands after the rubs but I would do 7-8 rubs that day so that would involve a reasonable amount of deep heat mostly on them but i am worried re the amount i may have absorbed and possible problems I may have caused, would the 12 wk scan show any damage. I feel awful about this and am past myself that I have harmed my baby.Obvisiously I will use gloves for any work I do in the future. What should I do?
Jennie

[Alan]

Hi Jenniebailey
There is no need to worry your baby will be fine. There is no proof that Methyl Salicylate, which I am sure that you know, is the main component of deep heat, can harm the human foetus. The problem is that it has not been proven safe. Also there is very little that can harm your baby prior to 2 weeks. I think that using gloves from now on is a good idea in fact I would suggest that you double glove.