“The official NHS advice on paracetamol is that it can be used through all stages of pregnancy to reduce a high temperature (fever) and relieve pain. This is supported by a large body of evidence from over 50 years of paracetamol use in humans.
“This study* also looked at the use of ibuprofen in pregnancy, however pregnant women are advised to avoid taking ibuprofen during pregnancy, unless it is on the advice of a doctor.
“In line with current guidelines, we advise that pregnant women use paracetamol at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and the researchers stress that this advice remains unchanged. We would recommend that pregnant women should always speak to their GP, midwife or pharmacist before taking any medicine, including paracetamol. It’s also important to read the product information carefully and only use in accordance with the instructions.”
*A study carried out by the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and published in Environmental Health Perspectives, has reported that using painkillers paracetamol and ibuprofen during pregnancy may impair the future fertility of offspring.
