Tylenol Found Unsafe for Women During Pregnancy

Just about every woman who becomes pregnant develops a headache, a backache, muscle pain or fever. In North America, more often than not pregnant women will reach for Tylenol to relieve mild everyday pain. But a new study suggests that taking Tylenol or other products made with acetominophen (a chemical known as paracetamol outside of the United States) during pregnancy can affect the child's future development of language skills and social abilities.

For 10 years, from 1999 to 2008, the Norwegian national health system asked every pregnant woman in Norway to participate in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. By the end of the study, the mothers of 48,631 children had returned survey data on their pregnancies and their lifestyle choices during the first three years of their children's lives. Among the children, there were 2,919 children who had a same-sex brother or sister. The researchers looked at the survey data sent in by the mothers of these children to determine whether using drugs that contain acetominophen had any effect on mothers' or children's wellbeing.

The researchers found that children of mothers who had used acetominophen on 28 days or fewer during pregnancy had children who had poorer motor coordination skills than their siblings who had not been exposed to Tylenol-like medications in the womb. When mothers took Tylenol for more than 28 days during pregnancy, their children displayed:

• Higher activity levels, that is, they were more likely to be on track for a diagnosis of ADHD,
• Poorer communication skills,
• Poorer internalizing behavior, that is, "learning the rules" and caring about others,
• Poorer externalizing behavior, that is, exploration, curiosity, and seeking new experiences, 

and also poorer motor coordination skills.

The researchers found that the more often a mother took Tylenol or similar acetominophen mediations during pregnancy, the worse the developmental problems in their children by age three. Nearly 65% of Norwegian mothers took acetominophen at least once during pregnancy. A little under 5% took acetominophen on 28 days or more, and some mothers used the "harmless" pain reliever up to 7 times a day.

The study did not find similar effects from ibuprofen.

Since the developmental problems found in this study, some laypeople reading news stories about the research have quoted its scientists as having said that taking Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. Harvard autism researcher Dr. Martha Herbert disagrees, noting that while many mothers to be pop a Tylenol whenever they feel an ache or pain coming on ""I don't think it's a done deal," she told Reuters Health. In the Norwegian study, children were not diagnosed with autism by age 3, and it is possible there are many other factors also involved, according to Dr. Herbert.

Read More: FDA Issues Warning Of Potentially Fatal Skin Reaction To Tylenol

But this does not mean it's safe to use common pain relievers during pregnancy, either. The authors of the study of Norwegian mothers note that nearly all mothers use some kind of pain reliever during pregnancy, especially acetaminophen,aspirin, ibuprofen, docusate, naproxen, and pseudoephedrine, and of the 54 over the counter pain relievers that have been tested for their effects on the developing embryo and fetus, only two have been found to be unequivocally safe.

What Should Mothers Do For Aches And Pains During Pregnancy?

Before this study, Tylenol (acetominophen/paracetamol) was assumed to be the only safe over the counter pain reliever for women at any stage of pregnancy. Other studies have found that over the counter pain relievers are particularly risky during the third trimester, especially if the baby is born prematurely.

• Aleve (naproxen), Advil and Motrin (iburprofen), and  Orudis (ketoprofen), are known to have potential to harm the fetus if taken during the third trimester, although the Food and Drug Administration believes that the benefits of pain relief outweight the potential harm to the unborn child.
• Aspirin is know to be potentially harmful to both mother and child at all stages of pregnancy, due to increased risk of bleeding, although it is used in some special situations.

Aspirin, acetominophen (paracetamol/Tylenol), and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may increase pressure inside the skull of the fetus that interferes with the maturation of the brain. But if nearly every over the counter medication for pain and fever is not really known to be safe for the developing child, what should mothers do for pain relief during pregnancy?

Read More: Natural Pain Relief Options During Labor And Birth

Here are some suggestions:

• Acupressure. Gentle pressure on the webbing between the thumb and forefinger of either hand can relieve nausea and pain of indigestion. 
• Aromatherapy, especially with lavender oil, can relieve various kinds of pain, but avoid it during the first trimester, and don't use it more than once or twice a week.
• Good posture, especially while seated, can reduce back pain. It's helpful to sit in chairs that support the back, using a small pillow if necessary.
• Homeopathics, especially when they are chosen in consultation with a homeopathic physician (the process of identifying the underlying problem sometimes leads to its resolution), may be effective in some cases, and they are not known to cause any kind of birth defect or developmental delay.
• Low-heel shoes, not flats, can reduce foot pain.
• Massage is great for relieving back pain, but it is important not to massage the dimples on either side of the spine, since this can stimulate labor.
• Pillows to keep your thighs parallel when you are in bed prevents leg and back pain.
• Rest is the best treatment for pain caused by tiny fractures in the tail bone, usually noticed during a second or later pregnancy.
• Sleeping on your side, not on your back, can relieve back pain during pregnancy.
• Swimming relieves pain, but it is important to keep your entire face in the water (except when you take breath) if you use the breaststroke.
• Treating depression, if it is a problem, sometimes also relieves back pain, leg pain, and sciatica.