(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump discouraged pregnant women from taking Tylenol during a news conference Monday, saying research needs to be done to see if there is a potential link between the pain reliever and higher autism risk.
“All pregnant women should talk to their doctors for more information about limiting the use of this medication while pregnant,” Trump said. “So ideally, you don’t take it at all, but if you have to, you can’t tough it out probably, you’re going to end up doing it.”
With Trump’s latest comments, questions are now being asked: Why shouldn’t women take pain relievers while pregnant? What are the other options a pregnant woman can try to relieve pain? Can pain relievers cause side effects during a woman’s pregnancy?
Why can’t pregnant women take pain relievers?
The Food and Drug Administration says pregnant women who take pain relievers are at risk of potential complications occurring.
They spotlight three types of medicines — prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and acetaminophen.
Taking prescription NSAIDs in the first half of a pregnancy can put women at risk of a miscarriage.
Opioids taken in the first trimester put pregnant women’s babies at risk of birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord. As for acetaminophen, women taking it any time during pregnancy — in either OTC and prescription products — put their children at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The agency also advised that pregnant women consult their doctors before taking any prescription or OTC medicine to discuss the risks and benefits of pain medicine use.
Can pain relievers cause other effects during pregnancy?
According to the National Library of Medicine, pain relievers can also lead to other effects for pregnant women, including fetal bleeding, vascular disruption and premature ductal closure.
“To minimize fetal risk, initiate drug interventions at the lowest effective dose, especially in late pregnancy, and select analgesics only after careful review of a woman’s medical or medication history,” the National Library of Medicine said.
“Women should avoid using NSAIDs after 32 weeks’ gestation, owing to the possibility of antiplatelet or prolonged bleeding effects,” added NLM.
What are the other options a pregnant woman can try to relieve pain?
For pregnant women who want to avoid pain relievers, several other options can be beneficial.
Taking herbal supplements, applying pain-relieving creams and ointments, CBD products and other physical forms of movement can all be helpful alternatives.
“To find relief from joint pain or lower back pain without medication, try improving your posture (both while standing and sitting), wearing low-heeled shoes, lifting properly (squatting, not bending), sleeping on your side (perhaps with a pillow between your legs), getting a prenatal massage, using hot or cold packs, and doing low-impact exercise like walking or swimming,” says HealthGrades.com. “Therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic may help too.”