Behind the Mail Online’s headline about paracetamol and pregnancy

Medical research is constant, and with new pregnancy studies popping up in the news every week, it can be hard to know which sources to trust. The do’s and don’ts can also seem endless, and at times conflicting.

Today, we’re going behind the headline of the Mail Online’s article about paracetamol use in pregnancy.

Our midwife Sophie says

‘We have read the Mail Online’s article that links the potential risks of paracetamol use during pregnancy with ADHD for the infant in later life.

We recognise that many women need to take paracetamol during pregnancy to relieve a wide range of symptoms and understand that the types of medication deemed safe to take during pregnancy is quite limited.

We would always recommend taking advice from your obstetric doctor, midwife or medical professional when deciding what medication to take during pregnancy. If your medical professional’s advice is to take certain medication, the risk from not taking it could be greater.

For example, taking paracetamol to relieve the fever from an infection is vitally important, as fever itself has far more ill-effects to both mother and baby than taking paracetamol for a short period of time.

We know that research is constantly ongoing in the medical world, but we only publish the latest studies from reputable sources such as NHS England, RCOG, the RCM, and Tommy's research centres. This way, you can be sure that you are reading trusted research that is based on real statistics.

So, we say, don’t deny yourself pain relief if you need it and listen to advice that is based on your individual circumstances!’

Trustworthy pregnancy advice

If you’re unsure, always talk to your midwife or GP first to get their advice. With access to your current medical and pregnancy notes, you can make an informed decision together about what is right for you.

For the latest pregnancy research and information that you can trust, we recommend NHS England, Royal College of Gynaecology and the Royal College of Midwives.

And Tommy’s, of course!

Find out how we produce our information.