3 Precautions You Need to Know About Taking Painkillers in Pregnancy

Are pain relievers safe for pregnant women? Learn about pregnancy-safe pain relief here.

All pregnant women can relate when we say pain becomes an everyday thing, especially towards the end of the pregnancy journey. So, it's not uncommon for mums-to-be to think of taking painkillers whenever their backs ache from sitting up for too long or they seem to be having joint pains.

But since painkillers are medicine, many women pause for concern. Is it safe to take painkillers when pregnant? And if it is safe, what painkiller can I use to ease my headache? What safe painkiller in pregnancy can I take for dental pain? How about types of painkillers? Tylenol and Ibuprofen - are they safe to take during pregnancy?

Is there another safe way toward pain relief apart from taking painkillers?

Are Painkillers Safe for Pregnant Women?

These questions are valid if you are asking them yourself. Your baby consumes whatever you take, so if in case painkillers might cause harm to them, you might have second thoughts and just think of sleeping the pain away.

Whenever you're in pain and think about taking some acetaminophen, the first thing you should do is consult your doctor. If they give you the green light, the right dosage, and how many times a day, then you're good to go. And, don't worry too much about whether it's common to take or not as two-thirds of pregnant women take them usually around the last month of their pregnancy.

So, what's the only worry? Don't take painkillers if you are allergic to them. And, even if your OB has given you the green light to take them, take only a little and for a short period of time. Taking painkillers during pregnancy may not cause miscarriage or complications in your labour, but some studies can confirm that your baby can eventually experience their effects.

The Risks of Taking Painkillers

Certain types of painkillers may have adverse effects on your pregnancy. 

1. Acetaminophen, a.k.a. Tylenol

Some studies say if you take them daily for long periods of time (like a month), it's likely your child might develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. 

Some research has found that daily doses of painkillers during pregnancy, specifically in your second term, appear to increase the chances of your baby having asthma or wheezing. Further research needs to be done in order to fully confirm this claim. 

Some research has also found that taking this kind of painkiller in high doses or frequent use can result in giving birth to girls who will experience early puberty or boys with fertility problems. Some boys whose mothers took painkillers while pregnant to them have undescended testicles.

If you really need Tylenol during your pregnancy, your OB might prescribe you a small dosage. But, if you can avoid taking this painkiller, do so.

2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs

Another body of research says non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, when taken early in the pregnancy, can increase the likeliness of a miscarriage or birth defects. So, definitely avoid NSAIDs or ibuprofen or aspirin for the entire duration of your pregnancy. Otherwise, you can risk having your baby's heart blood vessel close. And, you don't want to do that.

NSAIDs might also make it hard for you to get to labour and reduce your amniotic fluid.

3. Opioids

Opioids are codeine, morphine, or oxycodone. These are the strong drugs that doctors administer to patients who experience extreme pain. Unfortunately, this type of painkiller is also notorious for making drug addicts out of people. 

Your OB might advise you against using this painkiller because some studies have found that it can possibly cause birth defects in your baby or cause premature birth, preterm labour, and even stillbirth. Those are the big three words that will effectively make you say no to opioids.

Some women may already be taking this kind of painkiller before pregnancy and may be advised to resume taking them while pregnant, but you ought to be extra cautious of the amount you're taking because your baby might also be consuming the opioids you are taking and could end up experiencing withdrawals, otherwise known as NAS or neonatal abstinence syndrome.

NAS can affect the growth of your baby or cause them to have breathing problems. So take caution when using this painkiller.

ALSO READ:

What Medications Are Not Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

Ayurvedic Medicine During Pregnancy: What Is Safe and When to Take Them

Essential Vaccines You Need During Pregnancy

Painkiller vs. Alternative Medicine

Now we know the possible risks of taking painkillers in daily doses. Let's find out how we can relieve some of the most natural pain-causing symptoms you experience during this journey.

1. Headache

If you have a sinus headache, try putting a warm compress in between your nose and eyes. For tension headaches, apply cold compress to the base of your neck.
You might also want to find out the reason why you're having a headache and not having enough sugar in your system may be a reason, so eat more often to avoid getting a headache. Get neck massages when you can and rest in dim places.
If all else fails, you can contact your OB and ask if you can take some Tylenol.

2. Toothache

We always underestimate the pain brought on by a toothache - yes, to the point of getting a terrible headache. Before resulting to taking painkillers, try drinking milk first, eating some pomegranate, or rubbing a piece of garlic on the area.

3. Muscle Pain

Again, painkillers should be your plan Z. If any of these remedies don't work and your back still hurts, then, fine, consult your OB for the right dosage of Acetaminophen.
But, if it has not come to that, try these remedies:
  • Prenatal Yoga - Relieving muscle pain is not the only benefit of prenatal yoga. It can improve your posture, prepare your body for birth, relieve emotional stress, and help you sleep better. Those are more than enough reasons to use yoga as your painkiller.
  • Acupuncture - If you have yet to learn what acupuncture is, essentially it's the art of poking needles all over your body to relieve stress. For pregnant women, the benefits are more. It can improve your digestion, increase your energy level, and relieve your morning sickness, migraines, and body pain. A caution though - you want to make sure you go to an acupuncturist who has had pregnant clients before.
  • Prenatal Massage - The best alternative medicine for body pain is prenatal massage - not just for its effectiveness but for pregnant women's preference for it. And the good news is it not only relieves body pain but also some depression and anxiety.
  • Swimming - This is the most highly recommended form of exercise for pregnant women as it helps remove pressure off their spine. Why? The gravity in the water supports all the weight that most pregnant women had to endure walking around with.

Image source: iStock

So, from here, we can say that certain painkillers are safe while most are not safe for your baby. So, the best way to approach this problem is to either consume less than your prescribed dosage of painkillers or to try alternative medicine. 
Harvard Health Publishing, What to Expect, WebMD, Very Well Health, Crest, 

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it's important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn't serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.

Written by

Kim Brua