For mums with toddlers: how did you take paracetamol during pregnancy?

8dpwoah · 25/08/2021 11:07

Until the official medical guidance changes to say that paracetamol in pregnancy isn't recommended by the NHS/RCOG etc, which your GP or midwife would communicate to you, it is fine to keep taking it. I don't believe for a second there is any good quality research out there that would lead to them making that decision any time soon so be guided by what the NHS website says or your midwife I'd you still aren't sure.

So my view was always to try to manage without it but there are always times where taking some safe pain relief will be a positive thing particularly if it allows you to eat, get some fresh air etc. I get fairly mild migraines which I manage using ibuprofen which I definitely can't have while pregnant, sometimes paracetamol takes the edge of them and allows me to do all the other things I need to do to stay healthy.

Jujujuly · 25/08/2021 11:14

I didn’t take it. However I was on all kinds of other medication not recommended in pregnancy that I needed in order to stay pregnant (steroids) and needed a course of antibiotics at one point for a UTI. It’s about weighing up risk/benefit imo.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 25/08/2021 11:49

Yes definitely as Jujujuly says, its about weighing up the risk/benefit. In an ideal world I'd not take it, but if I have a bad headache then I'll take it because I can't function properly, I don't make good choices when I'm unwell and that leaves me snappy with my toddler.

And also, why be a martyr and feel rubbish when you don't have to?

Also, why just pregnant mums with toddlers? Genuinely can't see why me having a toddler and being pregnant is any different to a different woman who is pregnant with her first child? Just curious, x.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 25/08/2021 11:54

I just, you know... took them if I had a bad headache, or a bad fever.

Millions of pregnant women have been taking paracetamol forever. Don't take them if you don't want to, but martyring yourself is pointless.

HangingChads · 25/08/2021 11:57

I took paracetamol whenever I felt I needed it in pregnancy. For me, "I feel that I should everything I can to protect my baby" included taking pain relief when necessary.

FTEngineerM · 25/08/2021 11:59

As above: wait for NHS/RCOG, but, judging by the fact it’s been deemed ‘ok’ for use for several decades it’s unlikely to change.

Bells3032 · 25/08/2021 12:37

I've taken paracetamol once (I am 17 weeks) trying to avoid it if i can but my headache was awful and nothing else was touching it. My friend reccomended 4head which seems fine in pregnancy if you want to use that instead

Neverrains · 25/08/2021 12:40

Why are you only asking mums with toddlers?
I have 3 children. I took paracetamol in pregnancy when I needed to, for example when I had a migraine.

Yummymummy2020 · 25/08/2021 12:42

I took them when I needed to. More research is needed but plenty have been taking it years so I wasn’t too concerned. I have two babies but I’m not worried about having taken some as needed.

gogohm · 25/08/2021 12:51

If you need paracetamol take it, if you can get away with other measures (water, dark room, rest etc) avoid - same if you are not pregnant. It is a drug so should be used only if really required, I say this as someone with chronic pains, I need medication but use sparingly because it becomes ineffective (fortunately I can still cope without, this is likely to change as I age alas)

ReggaetonLente · 25/08/2021 12:54

I didn't really but only because I didn't need to.

I took it in early labour to take the edge off.

8dpwoah · 25/08/2021 15:50

That's a really good point actually @ReggaetonLente the hospitals do say, and give out, paracetamol at the start of labour don't they (might as well eat a tictac at point I think, but there we go...)

letsmakethishappen · 25/08/2021 16:05

Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy I use it when needed. It’s not great for the baby if you’re in pain anyway

Original poster

sapo2000 · 26/08/2021 17:11

Thank you for all your answers. I took paracetamol already and I am very conflicted whenever I do it, mainly due to my own personality/identify pre-pregnancy. The reason why I mentioned 'mums with toddlers' is because I was interested to see the average of paracetamol 'consumption' throughout pregnancy.

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Dontwantsummertoend · 26/08/2021 17:57

I'm 17 weeks and really struggling with this. I suffer from frequent and often really severe migraines. Paracetamol doesn't work, but it does take the worst away. A normal headache is something I can deal with without pain relief, but I can't deal with the migraines. So I've been taking paracetamol once every couple of weeks, and I am terrified that it is doing harm to the baby. But I don't know what else to do. The other day I sat out a migraine for 14 hours, but they only get worse and never better. Plus, I need to work. I can't take two or three days off work every week...

CaptainPicardsToupee · 26/08/2021 17:59

I took it quite a lot in first trimester as I had really bad headaches (not more than the packet said, but most days for a couple of weeks). I didn't really think about it tbh. If I needed it, I took it. If it did any harm to DD, we're yet to find out what (she's 2.5 now)!

Twickerhun · 26/08/2021 18:03

I had to take a reasonable amount in my second pregnancy due to unrelated severe pains. Didn’t take any in my first pregnancy - both kids are absolutely fine.

LBOCS2 · 26/08/2021 18:10

I took paracetamol in both my pregnancies - I ended up with terrible sinus problems with both, and had to take painkillers and antibiotics. The nurse I saw told me off for not taking enough to control my temperature as that was more dangerous than any perceived issue with tablets.

Original poster

sapo2000 · 27/08/2021 13:18

Thank you for all replies. I talked about this to my cousin recently. She had 3 successful pregnancies and all deliveries were vaginal and she refused receiving pain relief during the delivery, i.e. she seems to have a great resistance to pain. She took several medicines through all pregnancies, including Brufen...maybe a type of Brufen which can be taken by pregnant women. All was recommended by the doctor. She had lots of infections etc during all pregnancies. I think as someone already said, it is a question of balancing risks. For instance, If I have temperature, I will certainly take paracetamol because the side effects of an untreated fever are far worse for the baby.

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thingymaboob · 27/08/2021 13:47

I always use this website to determine whether something is safe in pregnancy or not. Evidence based advice.
Here's the entry about paracetamol -

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Paracetamol/

Original poster

sapo2000 · 27/08/2021 14:15

[quote thingymaboob]I always use this website to determine whether something is safe in pregnancy or not. Evidence based advice.
Here's the entry about paracetamol -

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Paracetamol/[/quote]
This is very useful. Many thanks!

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Ozanj · 27/08/2021 14:16

@sapo2000

Just a curiosity. I hate taking medication and now that I am pregnant, I feel that I should everything I can to protect my baby. Some studies came out regarding potential long term effects of paracetamol. This research is not conclusive and more needs to be done. I would like to know more about this.

That study was debunked because it used women who already either had autism, had autistic babies before, or who had conditions linked to poorer birth outcomes.

loafcake · 27/08/2021 14:32

I have a toddler, though not 100% sure on the relevance. I took paracetamol for headaches through her pregnancy and the pregnancy I'm in now, I don't take it very often but if you're in pain I think it's better to not be in pain by doing something about it.

I guess if you're very worried you can ask your doctor or midwife for alternatives but I can't think of any that will do the job as easily as paracetamol!
I've also never been told I can't, so I guess I don't feel bad about it at all.

I did have a friend who refused to take paracetamol, and then I caught her sneaking a few cigarettes when she felt 'stressed' so where her mindset was I absolutely do not know!!

loafcake · 27/08/2021 14:34

Oh I just saw your other comment! I didn't and haven't been taking it regularly, the most in this pregnancy so far was two tablets twice in one day (it was a really rough day and my daughter was being a very good - loud- toddler)

Original poster

sapo2000 · 27/08/2021 14:50

@loafcake

I have a toddler, though not 100% sure on the relevance. I took paracetamol for headaches through her pregnancy and the pregnancy I'm in now, I don't take it very often but if you're in pain I think it's better to not be in pain by doing something about it.

I guess if you're very worried you can ask your doctor or midwife for alternatives but I can't think of any that will do the job as easily as paracetamol!
I've also never been told I can't, so I guess I don't feel bad about it at all.

I did have a friend who refused to take paracetamol, and then I caught her sneaking a few cigarettes when she felt 'stressed' so where her mindset was I absolutely do not know!!

Thank you

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