How to Safely Prevent Pain During Pregnancy
How to Safely Prevent Pain During Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, paying attention to what you put into your body is important for both you and your growing fetus. When you see long lists of foods and medications to avoid during pregnancy, you may ask yourself, “What is&Բ;ڱ?”
Acetaminophen, the pain reliever found in medications like Tylenol, has long been considered safe for pregnant women to take and is the .
Many OB/GYNs and associations, such as the , reassure patients that acetaminophen is safe to take during pregnancy.
“It is one of the only safe pain relievers for use in pregnancy,” says Torri Metz, MD, an OB/GYN at 鶹ѧƷ. “It also treats fevers, which is very important in pregnancy.”
The Flaws in the Research
While media coverage of studies suggest that acetaminophen use in pregnancy may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, the overwhelming body of evidence suggests there is no known association.
“The studies suggesting an association do not account for other important facts such as increased risk of these disorders within families, which is likely a result of genetic difference or differences in environment,” Metz explains.
Other significant flaws in the studies demonstrating an association include:
- Self-reporting has the potential for recall bias. When you receive an upsetting diagnosis about your child, it’s easy to immediately start thinking about things you did during pregnancy to pinpoint a cause. You might be more likely to recall taking acetaminophen during pregnancy if you have a child with ASD or ADHD, especially if you are primed to believe there is a relationship there. Similarly, you are less likely to recall it if you don’t have an affected child.
- The reason for taking acetaminophen might be the true risk factor. Studies have failed to consider why people were using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Acetaminophen is often used to treat fever or inflammation. Fevers can be a symptom of an underlying viral or bacterial infection. Infection or inflammation, not the treatment, could be what is actually associated with ASD or ADHD.
- Diagnosis of neurobehavioral disorders continue to evolve. According to the , the causes of disorders like ASD and ADHD are unknown, and there is the potential for other contributing factors that are not measured in these studies, such as genetic predisposition.
To Medicate or Not to Medicate
Not treating a fever, illness, or pain can have negative effects on both mother and baby. Avoiding medication altogether doesn’t necessarily mean you are entirely avoiding risk.
Pregnant patients are advised to weigh the risks and benefits of taking medication versus not taking it, rather than assuming that avoiding exposure is associated with no risk.
For example, an untreated migraine in pregnancy has real ramifications. That person may experience hours or even days of pain during which:
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They’re not going to eat as healthy,
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They’re not going to exercise,
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They’re not going to sleep well,
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They’re not going to be as functional at home and at work.
These are all things that are important for a healthy pregnancy.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that an untreated migraine can negatively affect the overall health of the pregnant person and her family.
If you are experiencing pain or fever during pregnancy and wonder if acetaminophen is right for you:
- Talk to your provider about your specific reason for taking it
- Consider other non-medication therapies that might work for you
- As with all medications, take the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed
If your pain or fever is not alleviated after several days of taking acetaminophen, call your doctor. You may have something more serious that requires medical care.
If you took acetaminophen during pregnancy, don’t panic. Acetaminophen is considered by health care providers to be the pain and fever reliever of choice during pregnancy.
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