Was paracetamol always ok in pregnancy?

[tinaabbot]

I don’t want to comment on the nonsense in the news at the moment, but it has got me thinking. I don’t remember being able to take paracetamol while pregnant. I definitely don’t remember being able to take anything for a cold. Am I misremembering? I was pregnant in 2008 and in Ireland. Anyone remember what the advice was back then?

You’ll be waiting a long time then because there is no link - he’s spouting internet bullshit to keep the masses distracted.

As I repeatedly said, I am curious if I am mis remembering the advice I got?

My daughter is very fit and healthy, and extremely bright, she also has ADHD, as do I most likely. A lot of neurodivergent people are extremely bright and the world would be a worse place without them.

Sorry, I hate the implications that neurodivergent children are somehow less.

I don't think you're misremembering OP... When I had my children, it was advised not to drink alcohol, eat only the safe foods, no caffeine and no drugs or painkillers of any kind. I distinctly remember being told this by the midwife because I was paranoid about it all through all three pregnancies and avoided it all!

So I was pregnant in 2010 and 2013 and I remember making a very definite decision to not take any paracetamol or other medication throughout. And I have always been a bit headachey. So it had an impact which is why I remember don’t remember it being specific advice more aversion to adding anything to my body. (No judgement to women who had to take medication whilst pregnant meant by this comment).

Also I think you do often get dud advice from medical professionals when pregnant. It’s likely OP was told this, but I think what posters are saying is it’s never been officially guidelines (ie not something you’d find in an NHs leaflet or website)

I mean don’t forget it’s not that long ago women were old to avoid steak and eggs, and lots of people still cite that as something to avoid.

Although I too did stay away from all alcohol and the foods on the list like prawns? Can’t remember now - so maybe it was on the list.

2007 was told only paracetamol safe during pregnancy.
I was told the same when I had my last in 2022 but told if needed only take 1 tablet instead of 2.
Paracetamol does nothing for pain so didn't take any during my pregnancies no point taking something that does nothing for you.

Thats because some clinicians tell pregnant women not to take any medication at all as they are misogynistic and lazy.

I was definitely allowed to take it and also cocodomol. I took lots of both early on in my pregnancy with DS as I had a huge ovarian cyst which was agony but they didn't want to operate in the first trimester (they did do it at 11 or 12 weeks in the end). Ds is autistic but that runs in our families and it has nothing to do with my intake of paracetamol I'm sure!

I was pregnant in the 80s and was told not to take any paracetamol at all.

That's my recollection, too. No medication, alcohol, soft cheese, pate etc. Fortunately I didn't need anything, but I went to prenatal classes during my first pregnancy and one of the ladies there asked, because she suffered with migraines. The course leader said 'Well, it's up to you, but I wouldn't take anything at all, it's not worth the risk.' So there were definitely some midwives giving that advice.

I was pregnant in 2010 and 2017, paracetamol was definitely considered safe then. And in 2010 I had pain problems that paracetamol wouldn't touch so was given codeine and oxycodone. I was also given a lot of x rays (x ray guided cystoscopy and x ray guided kidney catheter insertion) in hospital so apparently that's not so bad either.

Pregnant around the turn of the century, and it was fine then.

This whole thing makes me so sad. My beautiful intelligent eldest daughter is autistic, she came to me yesterday asking did I take paracetamol when I was pregnant with her. I was able to tell her no I didn't. I was very nervous on my first pregnancy and did not take anything, wouldn't even eat food from deli counters because of fear of listeria. By the time I was pregnant with her younger siblings I did take paracetamol as advised by my doctors because I was suffering with bad migraines. Her siblings are not autistic.

It got me thinking though what if I had answered yes, would she be angry with me, blame me, would I blame myself? I am so angry with trump on this his completely false allegations laying the blame at women it is disgusting.

My daughter is brilliant and I would not change her but I know her life is more of a challenge than her siblings and I know she often wishes she wasn't "weird" or "different" (her words). This whole thing is so tough and I am so upset that some mums will blame themselves now.

I always thought taking any kind of drug, unless really really necessary, was a big fat No when pregnant. No cigarettes, no booze, no drugs. Everything passes to the foetus.

I asked my mum and paracetamol was okay for her 3 pregnancies in the 60’s okay for mine in the late 80’s and 90’s. In fact I had a terrible chest infection during my 80’s pregnancy and the GP was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics ( until he saw the couloir of the gunk I was coughing up) and actively encouraged me to take paracetamol. Although for a balanced view if she had been pregnant with me just a few months earlier she would have been offered Thalidomide as she suffered from terrible all day “morning sickness”.

I love your username in light of your post 🤣

Although cold medicine is paracetamol based, it’s not recommended in pregnancy as it usually contains caffeine.

You can have caffeine in pregnancy. I have taken decongestant when pregnant and can confirm it sort of “extra” dries up your mucus and makes you breathless 😭 it stopped as soon as I stopped taking it. It wouldn’t be harmful for the fetus though.

Absolutely fine in 2004 and 2007. In fact when I was induced with my second one I was given parecetemol with codeine for the pain (it was a long labour!)

That's the implication that Trump is trying to get everyone to think with his words isn't it, that neurodivergent children shouldn't exist. Which is ridiculous as they contribute an awful lot to the world and have done for centuries.

One more anecdata, I took no paracetamol in pregnancy and my child is ASD, ADHD, PDA, SPD, all the acronyms!

To be fair - all sorts were allowed in the 1980s! It’s more recently that the list of things advised against has grown. 1980s my friend was positively encouraged to drink stout (drink like Guinness), in 2000 I was advised one or two alcohol units, I think in 2nd trimester, where as now alcohol is a definite no-no.

I think the advice (since the disaster of thalidomide) has been to avoid all pills / drugs in pregnancy if you can.

But the risk of a fever to the mother and unborn is higher than taking a painkiller, and the choice of which one to take is take something that has been around for a long time and no ill effects have been reported.

I was pg in 2009 and 2011 and was told paracetamol was fine but not to take aspirin or ibuprofen. However I remember lots of women refusing to take anything “just in case”. Not sure whether it was the time or place I was in but there was as a real thing about almost performative martyrdom, ultra purity. A lot of “well we don’t KNOW”. I think that might have been just my friends, and mumsnet

Only take when necessary and use the lowest dose that stops the pain - that would be sensible advice pregnant or not!