Worried I'm taking to much paracetamol in pregnancy

[Callie132]

Hello,

I suffer severe and frequent migraines and also headaches although not as rare.

I'm 14 weeks pregnant tomorrow and for the last 3 days I've taken 4 paracetamol each day and the two days before that I took frovatriptan for migraines.

My migraine tablets have been cleared when used sparingly by my GP but I'm not worried about the paracetamol as I can't find anywhere how many days you can take it for during pregnancy. When researching, I've ended up finding information saying paracetamol isn't as safe as it seems and can cause low birth weight, pre eclampsia and autism and now I'm freaking out.

I've currently got a nasty cold, cough and headache but now I'm thinking I should stop taking paracetamol as I've taken medicine for 5 days straight (3 days paracetamol and 2 migraine tablets).

Has anyone taken paracetamol also in pregnancy for a number of days with no negative affects to baby? I'll never forgive myself if it's my own doing that's caused the baby harm.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have no advice but I feel your pain. I am a migraine sufferer and had to come off my prescription daily tablets as soon as I fell pregnant as they're not safe.
Last Sunday I had an awful migraine, bedridden all day. Took regular paracetamol which just does nothing and ended up taking the ones with caffeine which finally worked. In 24 hours I'd taken 6 regular ones and 2 with caffeine.
I had a scan on Thursday due to some brown spotting but thankfully all is ok and I'm 10 weeks.

Last night I woke up with another migraine and it just won't shift. I've taken 4 paracetamol with caffeine and it's literally doing nothing. I've had the same intense pain for 12 hours and it's another day of being bedridden whilst my DH is looking after our DD who's 5 and wants constant attention 🤦‍♀️

Just wanted to say that even though I took a lot of paracetamol last weekend it didn't affect anything with the baby, but I am also cautious of the fact I don't want to take too many 😕☹️ migraines are so miserable, so you have my sympathy x

Also to note that I did take paracetamol last Monday and Tuesday too but not as many as I did when I had my migraine on Sunday.. I just feel like I'm constantly popping pills when a headache or migraine strikes.

I took a lot with DD1 as I had a lot of headaches. All fine. I've done the same with DD2 who I'm pregnant with as DD1 has brought home every bug going from nursery and I'd be miserable otherwise!

Migraines are just the worst. I was worried about my migraine tablets previously as I took a lot of them along with paracetamol before I realised I was pregnant but my scan at 13 weeks was fine. I was hoping to stop taking them but I suffered terribly in trimester 2 last time and the same thing seems to be happening.

Why is pregnancy so terrifying.

That's reassuring to hear! Thank you.

I'm not taking the maximum amount but just a constant worry when reading everything online but I don't know how to function with my toddler if I didn't take paracetamol.

I struggled in the second trimester too with my DD but this time around it's kicked in a lot sooner. I also remember taking a fair amount of paracetamol in my pregnancy with my DD during the second trimester.

I had to take paracetamol at the max possible dose throughout my pregnancy due to pain, I felt terrible about it but everything was fine. I worried myself sick though when my baby was born and in that horrible postnatal anxious way, I kept checking for signs of paracetamol -induced conditions. There were none btw.
Sometimes you have no choice.

I got bad headaches through both my pregnancies and was constantly taking paracetamol. Both babies are absolutely fine.

Glad it's kicking in for you this time! Makes the pregnancy far less enjoyable. My favourite trimester was actually the third as I barely suffered anything other than peeing and lack of sleep but no headaches or paracetamol needed then.

That's so good to hear and I'm so glad your LO is absolutely fine. Thanks so much for sharing. The midwife has actually prescribed me on aspirin every day up until I give birth to stop low birth weight and help with development but this has made me nervous so just waiting for Doctor to confirm I can take if along with my migraine tablets. Just feels like I'm adding more and more medicine to this pregnancy. Especially now it's been prescribed daily so glad to hear you had a similar situation.

Thank you - thats great to hear. Speak glad you had two beautiful and healthy babies. Eases my mind greatly!

I have chronic pain and had to wean off a lot of tablets before TTC. Paracetamol was one of the tablets that the GP days was okay to take as needed.

I tried to follow the mantra of the smallest dose for the shortest time possible.

I definitely had a few weeks though where I took it almost daily. I wouldn’t have been able to work without it. Or care for myself, or cook etc!

DC is absolutely fine he’s 8 months old and developing perfectly 😁

Should add that I had a very straightforward home birth, no problems with birth weight or anything else.

That's great to hear! So glad your LO is okay. Well done for managing your pain, that must have been so difficult for you to manage during pregnancy.

Home birth must have been a great experience. My midwife suggested that last time but my DD was 4 pound at birth so I'm a bit hesitant to but I've ways thought it sounded so much more relaxing! I don't like the idea of giving birth and then sharing a ward with lots of other people, makes me anxious!

I was in hospital for 5 weeks in my third trimester on IV paracetamol almost the whole time. And when I wasn't on paracetamol, I was on morphine. Me and DD2 are fine.

Hi I suffer from hideous daily headaches and took paracetamol every single day of my pregnancy, some days I needed two doses and other days I struggled on on one dose. In the last few weeks of pregnancy my headaches magically disappeared but have sadly come back daily as normal post partum.
Baby is 7 months and as far as I can tell is absolutely great.
I now take two doses of ibuprofen daily plus paracetamol on top and am breast feeding so feel like this baby must have had soooo much medication but every gp, obstetrician and neurologist I’ve spoken to has assured me it’s fine.
Have you seen the hats you can put in the freezer by the way? Helped give me some relief of migraines during pregnancy.

Thank you that is great reassurance.

So glad you're both okay!

Oh bless you that sounds horrendous that you suffer daily with headaches and migraines. Glad you're both okay and great to hear medical professionals confirmed paracetamol was absolutely fine.

No I've never heard of freezer hats. Do they help a lot? I definitely would invest in some if they do.

Freezer hats are a gift sent from god. I second that recommendation!

Basically babies seem to overcome a lot of obstacles so don't worry yourself.

But yes - lowest dose for the shortest amount of time is the recommendation.

As someone who also suffers migraines I would save paracetamol for migraines and suffer through the cold symptoms as there's lots of home remedies for colds but nearly nothing you can do for a migraine.

The hat! Migraine Relief Headache Hat - Cold Compress Instant Ice Pack - Migraine Cap Acupressure for Head & Face - Deep Nausea Tension 4head Relief Wrap - Cool Compress for Eyes, Forehead, Face & Toothache amazon.co.uk/dp/B0944TTWPC/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_T3NDPPZ0S6HHBMNT6EY6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]

Thank you and thanks for the link. I can't believe I've never heard of these before.

Yes you're right, babies seem to have super powers!

Definitely investing in a freezer hat!