When deciding whether to take pain relief while pregnant, it is crucial to determine the possible effects of the medicine on your developing baby. This article explains what the most effective pain relief you can take when pregnant, which ones are risky and what alternative you can try to get rid of pain.
For women, pregnancy is the most beautiful time in their lives. However, women also experience their share of discomfort from aches and pains. The discomfort is due to the hormonal changes with a growing abdomen. At such times, consuming a painkiller may feel like the easiest way to get rid of the uneasiness. But the question that arises in every mom’s head is, are pain relief medications safe to take during pregnancy? Well, the answer is that some pain relief for pregnant women is safe, but some should be strictly avoided. It is wise to consult a healthcare professional about pain relief for pregnant women.
Why does pain relief consumption require special attention?
Most medicines you take during pregnancy can cross the placenta and reach the baby. Painkillers, especially when used without medical supervision, may affect fetal organ formation, contribute to developmental issues, or affect the pregnancy itself. This is the reason why healthcare specialists encourage minimal and cautious use of pain relief drugs, especially during the first trimester when major fetal development takes place.
What medications are safe?
It is important to check with your healthcare specialist if you want to pop a pain relief while pregnant. This is applicable even to over-the-counter formulations. There are some options available. However, prefer using it only when necessary and under the guidance of a healthcare specialist.
Acetaminiophen
Acetaminophen is a commonly used over-the-counter medication considered the pain reliever of choice for headaches, fevers, and muscle or joint pain. You can purchase the most effective pain relief, acetaminophen, over the counter by itself or along with other medicines. Your healthcare provider can also prescribe it at higher doses, alone or with other medications. With their doctor’s approval, most women can take acetaminophen. It is a commonly used pain-relieving medication that doctors allow patients to take during pregnancy. An estimated data from research suggests that about two-thirds of American women take acetaminophen sometimes during the nine months of the pregnancy period.
Just stay away if you previously had a hypersensitivity reaction to acetaminophen, or if you have hepatic insufficiency, the pain relief medicine may not be recommended to you by your doctor. Acetaminophen is not associated with pregnancy-related issues like miscarriage or birth defects, but research revealed that babies could feel the effects later in their lives.
According to some research reports, taking acetaminophen for a longer duration, say 28 days or longer, could greatly increase the risk of mild developmental delays or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reports from other studies suggest that daily consumption of acetaminophen during the second half of pregnancy increases the chances that your baby will wheeze or have asthma. None of these scientific studies proves that the common pain reliever acetaminophen contributes to these issues, and further investigations are required to understand the connection.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
You may have consumed ibuprofen many times in your adult life. Still, your healthcare specialist will likely recommend something else to treat headaches, fever and muscle pain when you are pregnant. NSAIDs are available as over-the-counter medications and in prescription strengths, but there are safer choices to opt for during pregnancy. As per some research studies, consumption of NSAIDs, including naproxen, ibuprofen, celecoxib, and aspirin during the first trimester may increase the likelihood of miscarriage.
The link between NSAIDs and birth defects has also been investigated in studies. Some demonstrated a slight increase in the chances of problems with the baby’s heart or digestive system if you take NSAIDs in the early days of pregnancy. But further investigations need to be done to prove that NSAIDs cause these problems. Because the link hasn’t been proven, doctors may recommend that you take acetaminophen instead of NSAIDs. These medications are certainly not recommended during the last three months of pregnancy because of the increased risk of blockage of a blood vessel in your baby’s heart. The closure of a blood vessel can cause high blood pressure in a baby’s lungs. Consumption of NSAIDS can also make it harder for you to go into labour or can decrease the level of amniotic fluid that is present around your womb. Because of all these reasons, it is quite imperative to use NSAIDs only under the guidance of a healthcare professional to ensure no problems occur.
Opioid painkillers
Opioid painkillers, including morphine, codeine and oxycodone, are prescription-strength pain-relieving medicines with strong action. They are also among the most commonly abused prescription medicines in the United States. Reports from some scientific studies demonstrated an increased risk of developing certain birth defects in babies, such as heart problems. An increase in premature birth, preterm birth, or even having a stillbirth is also associated with the use of opioid painkillers. If you are already taking opioids, you may be advised to discontinue them once you conceive, because sudden discontinuation could affect your pregnancy. Instead, you may be advised to take a reduced dose at a gradual pace to prevent any withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, if you take opioids during pregnancy, fetus will be exposed to them in the womb and become addicted to them.
Furthermore, they will go through withdrawals from them after they are born. This condition is termed neonatal abstinence syndrome. This can be a serious condition, as it could cause your baby to be too small or have breathing issues, even if you consume opioids exactly as prescribed.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a delicate phase where even a small dose of a common medication requires careful consideration. While acetaminophen is generally considered safe, other pain relief drugs like NSAIDs and opioids can lead to significant risk to the developing baby. Moreover, what’s safe for one woman may not be ideal for another. So, what pain relief can you take when pregnant? The safest option is to consult your healthcare specialist before taking any medication. Trust your healthcare provider, prioritise the well-being of both you and your baby.
