People should feel reassured that using paracetamol, in line with NHS advice, is safe.
Patients should be reminded and reassured that there is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
- paracetamol is recommended as the first-choice pain reliever for pregnant women, used at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration. It can also be used to treat fever
- pregnant women should be advised to continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy. Please click here for more information
- untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important that patients continue to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment. If pain or fever does not resolve, patients are advised to seek advice from their healthcare professional
- patients should not swap to alternatives such as ibuprofen, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally not recommended during pregnancy