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Key takeaways
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered the safest pain relief option for pregnant women, but it’s advised to take the minimum amount necessary and avoid combination medications that might contain unsafe ingredients, such as cold and cough products.
Pregnant women are cautioned against taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin due to an increased risk of birth defects and miscarriage, with studies linking NSAID use during pregnancy to an 80% increase in miscarriage risk.
Alternative pain relief methods recommended during pregnancy include ice or heat application, topical creams (excluding those with menthol), Epsom salt baths, massage, visiting a chiropractor, and using body pillows.
It’s crucial for pregnant women to consult with their healthcare provider before taking any medications, and resources like the website MotherToBaby offer additional guidance on medication risks during pregnancy.
Back pain, indigestion, muscle tenderness, and leg cramps—these are all common pregnancy-related aches and pains… as anyone who has been pregnant likely knows! Pregnant women may experience a variety of symptoms from breast tenderness and leg cramps in their first and second trimester to Braxton Hicks contractions in the third, and chances are at some point they’ll be reaching into the medicine cabinet for some pain relief.
RELATED: What medications are safe to take during pregnancy?
Is it safe to take pain medications while pregnant?
Taking pain medicine while pregnant can be cause for uncertainty, but it’s also a commonly reported medication taken during pregnancy. According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 9 out of 10 pregnant women reported taking pain medication during pregnancy. The CDC does caution women who are pregnant, or trying to conceive, against using specific pain medications and recommends that patients consult with their medical health provider prior to taking any medications or supplements while pregnant. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of pain options.
Which pain medications are best to take during pregnancy?
The shortest answer is: take Tylenol while pregnant, not ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.
RELATED: Is Tylenol an NSAID?
Tylenol while pregnant: Safe
“Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, is the safest option to take during pregnancy; however, take as little of it as possible for the shortest course,” says Soma Mandal, MD, a board-certified internist at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
“Women who took acetaminophen were less likely to have birth defects,” Dr. Mandal says of the study.
While acetaminophen may be the drug of choice when looking for pain relief while pregnant, it’s still important to read the labels every time you purchase medication.
“Avoid combination medications, so you do not end up taking an unnecessary medication or a dangerous medication,” says Danielle Plummer, Pharm.D., the founder of HG Pharmacist. “For example, Excedrin has not only acetaminophen but also aspirin and caffeine, so avoid it.”
Ibuprofen while pregnant: Not safe
The CDC cautions against pregnant women taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—which includes ibuprofen, as well as opioids during pregnancy—after a study was conducted that linked these types of pain medications with an increase in birth defects.
Studies show that use of NSAIDs increase the chance of spontaneous miscarriage, with one study stating that prenatal use of NSAIDs increased the chance of miscarriage by 80%.
Drs. Plummer and Mandal both warn that ibuprofen may be the more popular NSAID, but there are many other pain medications that should be avoided during pregnancy. These include:
- Ibuprofen (Advil)
- Aspirin
- Naproxen (Aleve)
- Diclofenac (Voltaren)
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
RELATED: Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen
What are some alternative pain relief options during pregnancy?
“Depending on the type and location of the pain, I recommend to start by using ice or alternating ice and heat,” says Dr. Plummer, who cautions that you don’t put the ice directly on the skin. She recommends wrapping an ice pack in a towel, or using a bag of frozen peas or a product specifically designed for pain.
Some other alternatives that Dr. Plummer recommends include:
- Topical relief creams and oils (but avoid products with menthol)
- Epsom salt bath, but don’t overheat the water
- Massage
- Chiropractor
- Body pillows
When your quality of life is affected, and the natural solutions aren’t cutting it, then acetaminophen is an acceptable pain relief option during pregnancy.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking medication while pregnant. The CDC also recommends the online website MotherToBaby as a helpful resource that provides information about medication risks for pregnant mothers.