Pregnancy is a time of joy, excitement, and anticipation. However, it can also accompany unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and back pain. In addition to these common discomforts, pregnant women may also experience pain that requires over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or Ibuprofen to relieve them.
However, the interaction between these medications and their consumption can heavily impact your prenatal baby. Some medicines are linked to higher risks of miscarriages and congenital disabilities. Birth defects commonly affect around 1 in every 33 babies born in the USA. This article will discuss some common causes of pain during pregnancy and what types of medication might help alleviate them.
What Causes Pain During Pregnancy?
Pain during pregnancy is common and can be caused by several things. The growing fetus, the increase in hormones, and fluid retention can all cause you to experience discomfort. If you are concerned about the pain you are experiencing, it’s always best to consult your doctor.
When taking over-the-counter medications while pregnant, it’s important to remember that just because they’re available without a prescription doesn’t mean they’re safe for your baby or yourself.
If you have concerns about taking any type of medication during pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking anything.
What Are the Common Discomforts and Pain During Pregnancy?
It’s safe to say that pregnancy is a trying time for both moms-to-be and their families. However, here are some of the common discomforts and pains pregnant women experience:
- Back pain. Almost all women get back pain during pregnancy, which can last up to two a year after birth. A study published on the NCBI website shows that pregnancy is a risk factor for back pain. However, all women’s back pain chances are similar after a year of delivery. It may be caused by ligaments that loosen during pregnancy or due to added weight on your spine.
- Leg cramps. This discomfort typically occurs in your calves or feet, though sometimes it affects other body parts, like hands or thighs. You can combat these painful spasms by drinking plenty of water and stretching before bedtime each night. Also, ensure you’re getting enough calcium from food sources like leafy greens or dairy products. This mineral helps build strong bones that support muscles, such as those found in our legs and feet.
- Swollen feet/ankles/hands/mucous membranes/breasts. These are just some examples. Swelling is common during pregnancy because fluid builds up around cells for them to grow healthy bodies for their babies while they’re still inside us through their umbilical cord, which connects us until the birthday arrives when this cord breaks off.
Painkillers Like Tylenol Can Lead to Autism
Tylenol is safe for most people. In fact, it is one of the most common over-the-counter medicine for pain relief. However, it can be harmful to the prenatal baby. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2018 showed that consumption of Tylenol by mothers during pregnancy increases the risk of the prenatal baby developing autism.
Other studies conducted post the 2018 study also affirm the previous findings. Hence, many mothers whose children were exposed to Tylenol through them filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.
The Tylenol Autism lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer failed to warn the mothers about the consequences. If you also consumed Tylenol and your child is born with a higher risk of autism, you can also file a lawsuit. Seek professional help to file the Tylenol Autism lawsuit and claim compensation for your sufferings.
Acetaminophen Increases Child’s Risk for Developing ADHD
Acetaminophen is a painkiller found in many over-the-counter medications. It’s safe for adults but can be dangerous for children, especially if exposed to the prenatal stage.
An article published on the NCBI website shows that when exposed after birth, acetaminophen would not be hazardous for children. But if exposed prenatal through mothers, acetaminophen can develop ADHD in children.
Consumption of NSAIDs During Pregnancy Can Lead to Multiple Birth Defects
The over-the-counter painkillers ibuprofen and naproxen, among other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are usually safe for pregnant women. But if you or your partner take these medications before or during pregnancy, you should stop as soon as possible.
These drugs can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth when taken during pregnancy. They also may lead to multiple congenital disabilities in babies who survive past their due date. Hence, even the FDA discourages using NSAIDs during pregnancy, especially post-20 weeks.
Aspirin is considered a safer NSAID for pregnant women, but it’s still not safe to take near term unless prescribed by your doctor because it can cause bleeding problems in unborn babies’ brains.
Using Opioids for Pain Relief Can Be Dangerous for the Child in the Womb
Of course, using any medication during pregnancy comes with risks. A fetus is exposed to the drugs in its bloodstream, which can hurt its development. In the case of opioids, there are several ways that they can be dangerous for your baby-to-be:
- Opioids are toxic to the fetus. They affect brain development and disrupt growth patterns.
- Opioid use raises the risk of respiratory depression in newborns. Babies born with opioid withdrawal symptoms caused by exposure in utero may need treatment with morphine or methadone as newborns.
- If you become addicted to these drugs while pregnant, it’s likely that you’ll continue taking them after giving birth, and this can cause long-term problems for both mommy and baby.
Painkillers Are Best Taken at Their Lowest Dose
You should know that painkillers are best taken at their lowest dose. If you need to take large doses, talk to your doctor first. You should also avoid taking these medications with alcohol.
When taken at high levels during pregnancy, these medications can cause severe problems for a developing baby, including heart defects and bleeding disorders. Aspirin is more likely than acetaminophen to cause these problems, but both drugs have been linked with similar effects on fetuses when used excessively during pregnancy.
Conclusion
As we have discussed, painkillers like Tylenol can lead to autism, and acetaminophen increases a child’s risk of developing ADHD. Did you know that consuming NSAIDs during pregnancy can lead to multiple birth defects? The important thing is that pregnant women should be aware of these risks and talk with their doctors about how best to manage their pain during pregnancy.