What Pain Reliever Can You Take While Pregnant

What Are Alternatives To Ibuprofen During Pregnancy

I Wish Someone Told Me… What Pain Relievers are Safe to Take while Pregnant

Avoiding ibuprofen during pregnancy doesnt change your need for immediate pain relief at times. What are your options?

To more safely relieve aches and pains during pregnancy, use acetaminophen instead.

Tylenol is generally recommended for pain in all stages of pregnancy first, second, and third trimester. Even so, you should still consult your doctor first. And if possible, limit use of the pain reliever and take the lowest dose.

For mild pain, you might be able to relieve discomfort without medication.

For example, use a heating pad or a warm compress to relieve backaches, headaches, leg cramps, and pelvic pain. You can also alternate between heat therapy and cold therapy to reduce inflammation.

Other natural remedies include:

Which Medicines Are Safe

You can find out information on medicines in pregnancy on the bumps website.

They also have advice on what to do if you have already taken a medicine in pregnancy.

But it’s also important to never stop taking a medicine that’s been prescribed to keep you healthy without first checking with your doctor.

Stopping taking your medicine could be harmful to both you and your baby.

If you’re trying for a baby or are already pregnant, it’s important to always:

  • check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before taking any prescribed medicines or medicines that you have bought
  • make sure your doctor, dentist or another healthcare professional knows you’re pregnant before they prescribe anything or give you treatment
  • talk to your doctor immediately if you take regular medicine, ideally before you start trying for a baby or as soon as you find out you’re pregnant

If you cannot find information about a specific medicine on bumps, you can ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist to contact the UK Teratology Information Service for advice on your behalf.

Tens Unit While Pregnant: How Can It Help

Many pregnant women experience significant pain in their lower back as well as other areas of the body.

Research supports using a TENS unit to help manage pain because it is effective. Not only does the TENS unit work, but it is also a safe treatment for lower back pain during pregnancy.

Acetaminophen is another worthwhile consideration, as is good posture and specific exercises. However, despite these two options helping, a TENS unit during pregnancy proved more successful with relieving pain, especially in the last trimester.

It is also worth noting that using a TENS unit for pain is a better alternative to pharmaceuticals, which is often not recommended during pregnancy.

You May Like: Is Vagisil Safe For Pregnancy

Pethidine Injections In Labour

This is an injection of a medicine called pethidine into your thigh or buttock to relieve pain. It can also help you to relax. Sometimes, less commonly, a medicine called diamorphine is used.

It takes about 20 minutes to work after the injection. The effects last between 2 and 4 hours, so would not be recommended if you’re getting close to the pushing stage of labour.

How Does An Epidural Work

What kind of tylenol can i take while pregnant ...

To have an epidural:

  • a drip will run fluid through a needle into a vein in your arm
  • while you lie on your side or sit up in a curled position, an anaesthetist will clean your back with antiseptic, numb a small area with some local anaesthetic, and then introduce a needle into your back
  • a very thin tube will be passed through the needle into your back near the nerves that carry pain impulses from the uterus. Drugs are administered through this tube. It takes about 10 minutes to set up the epidural, and another 10-15 minutes for it to work. It does not always work perfectly at first and may need adjusting
  • the epidural can be topped up by your midwife, or you may be able to top up the epidural yourself through a machine
  • your contractions and the baby’s heart rate will need to be continuously monitored. This means having a belt around your abdomen and possibly a clip attached to the baby’s head

Don’t Miss: Kinesio Tape Pregnancy

Can I Use A Muscle Rub While Pregnant

In short, over-the-counter muscle rubs like IcyHot or Tiger Balm are OK to use while pregnant because of their low concentration of ingredients, according to Christine Sterling, MD, FACOG, a board-certified ob-gyn in California. Due to the large volume of different formulations available, Dr. Sterling recommends speaking with your doctor before using topical medications, especially while pregnant.

Similarly, Dr. King explained when your doctor is discussing medication safety in the context of pregnancy, they’re often trying to determine how a particular drug will affect a developing fetus. While some medications are perfectly safe to take when you’re not pregnant, they could be very harmful to a baby in utero. “Muscle rubs are locally acting, thus there is minimal systemic absorption, so the concern for harm to the fetus is minimal,” she said.

Which Medications Are Safe During Pregnancy

Wondering which medications are safe for pregnant women to take? From Advil to Tylenol, Tums to Pepto, heres your cheatsheet when it comes to the most common conditions you may need to treat while you’re expecting.

Getting sick when you’re pregnant can be scary enough without having to stress about whether popping pills that might ease your symptoms will harm your growing baby. “One of the biggest things my pregnant patients are afraid of is ingesting something that may cause birth defects or negatively impact the baby’s development,” says Alane Park, M.D., mother of two sons and co-author of The Mommy Docs’ Ultimate Guide To Pregnancy and Birth. “The truth is that most medications are actually deemed fairly okay. While you want to minimize drug use as much as possible, the consequences of not taking a medication on the health of the mother and baby usually outweigh any potential risks.”

To get relief and feel more at ease throughout your pregnancy, check out Dr. Park’s recommendations for safe medications while pregnant.

Read Also: Vagisil While Pregnant

What Pregnant Women Can Take For Indigestion And Heartburn

Safe to take: Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Pepcid

Progesterone is at it again, causing heartburn by affecting your smooth muscle cells and relaxing the sphincter between your stomach and esophagus so acid comes up. Before you take Prilosec or another prescription medication while pregnant, try over-the-counter remedies first because they’re the least strong. Also eat smaller and more frequent meals, stop noshing two to three hours before you hit the sack, and steer clear of rich, fried, or spicy foods, which often trigger stomach irritation. Sleeping on an incline can also prevent the contents of your stomach from splashing into your esophagus, causing heartburn.

Pain Or Headache Relief

What Medications Can You Take While Pregnant?

Acetaminophen is the drug of choice for pain during pregnancy. Its widely used with very few documented adverse effects.

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , on the other hand, should be avoided during pregnancy.

NSAIDs include:

  • ketoprofen
  • naproxen

If your pain is particularly severe after a surgery, for example your doctor may prescribe a short course of opioid pain relievers. When taken as directed, they may not affect fetal development.

That said, opioid use during pregnancy does carry the risk of withdrawal, called neonatal abstinence syndrome , after delivery.

Also Check: Vagisil Cream Pregnancy

Gas And Air For Labour

This is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas. Gas and air will not remove all the pain, but it can help reduce it and make it more bearable. It’s easy to use and you control it yourself.

You breathe in the gas and air through a mask or mouthpiece, which you hold yourself. The gas takes about 15-20 seconds to work, so you breathe it in just as a contraction begins. It works best if you take slow, deep breaths.

What Pregnant Women Can Take For Pre

Safe to take: It’s best to consult your doc if you’re on a prescription for a pre-existing health issue, but you’ll most likely need to continue taking life-saving meds during your pregnancy.

The goal is always to give the minimum dosage necessary to keep your symptoms under control, because there may be greater risks if you’re affected by say, asthma or seizures, than by the effects of taking those meds on the baby. “And even though we don’t recommend regular, prolonged exposure to anxiety drugs such as Zanax, Ativan, and valium because they’re addictive substances and the baby could have withdrawal symptoms at birth, we do prescribe them in rare occasions because you have to have a healthy, happy, functioning mom in order to have a healthy pregnancy,” says Dr. Park.

High blood pressure can be treated with methyldopa or a number of other medications. But it’s best to avoid a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors, commonly used to treat high blood pressure. These drugs can damage fetal kidneys after the first trimester. While most asthma medications are considered safe, , less is known about sprays containing salmeterol, so consult your doctor before use.

American Baby

Recommended Reading: Kinesio Tape For Pregnancy Round Ligament Pain

Is Tylenol Safe For Pregnancy Yes You Can Take A Normal Dose

  • Doctors consider Tylenol to be the safest over-the-counter pain medicine you can take while pregnant.
  • Tylenol dosage is the same for pregnant and non-pregnant adults: take no more than 3,000 milligrams of acetaminophen every 24 hours.
  • While you can take Tylenol, other pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin are not recommended for pregnant women.
  • This article was medically reviewed by Karen Duncan, MD, who is an assistant professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

All the physical changes that come with pregnancy also come with new aches and pains. Whether it’s headaches, fever, lower back pain, or aching feet, you don’t have to grit your teeth through the pain.

“There’s no reason why someone should be in pain and suffer while pregnant,” says Laura Laursen, a practicing OB-GYN in Chicago. “There are things we can do medically to bring you relief that are safe.”

Is Tylenol Safe In 1st Trimester

How Much Tylenol Can You Take While Pregnant? You Don

Acetaminophen is one of the most common treatments used by pregnant women for pain and fever. The compound, sold under the brand name Tylenol, is usually considered safe during pregnancy. New evidence suggests prolonged use might have serious effects on unborn children.

Also Check: Kt Tape Pregnancy Round Ligament Pain

Using A Heating Pad During Pregnancy

Some days might be better during the third trimester, but other days can be pretty painful with muscle cramps in the lower back, pelvic pain, or abdominal area. For this reason, doctors suggest using a heating pad or ice packs to relieve sore muscles.

This kind of pain during pregnancy is not a one-time thing and will be experienced on and off. Using a heating pad opens up the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and bringing fresh supplies of oxygen and nutrients. This helps reduce joint pain and eases soreness in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Heating pads also result in the opening up of the body as the muscle cramps are provided heat. So, it has quite a few benefits for pregnant people. But the duration and usage of the heating pad is also something to watch out for.

What If I Take Ibuprofen Before Realizing Im Pregnant

Of course, theres the possibility of taking ibuprofen before realizing that youre pregnant. This can happen since some women dont learn about a pregnancy until halfway through the first trimester. Should you worry?

Although experts recommend avoiding ibuprofen during pregnancy, the good news is that taking the medication before you know youre pregnant is unlikely to harm your baby. Just make sure you stop taking the drug as soon as you learn your pregnancy status.

If youve taken ibuprofen at any point during pregnancy, notify your doctor.

Don’t Miss: Is It Safe To Use Vagisil While Pregnant

Tylenol Pm During Pregnancy

Tylenol PM is actually a combination of two drugs: acetaminophen and diphenhydramine . Both drugs are considered safe for short-term, occasional, provider-approved use while pregnant. The suggested dosage for adults is two caplets at bedtime, with no more than two caplets in a 24-hour period. Long term use is not recommended for anyone.

If youre having a lot of trouble sleeping or experiencing frequent insomnia, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider to find ways of helping you get the rest you need.

Taking Medicine During Pregnancy

Is it safe to take Painkillers while pregnant? – Dr. Brij Mohan Makkar

There may come a time during your pregnancy when youre feeling under the weather and aren’t sure if you can take your regular over-the-counter medication. Some medications are safe to take during pregnancy. But others are not, or their effects on your baby may not be known.

When you meet with your doctor to confirm you’re pregnant, ask what meds are OK to take and what meds you need to find alternatives for. Your health care provider will weigh the risks and benefits to help you know what’s safe.

Also, tell your doctor about any alternative medicines or supplements you take, even if the label says “natural.” And if you get any new prescriptions while you’re pregnant, make sure the people who prescribe them know that you’re pregnant.

Don’t Miss: Is It Safe To Eat Tums While Pregnant

What Is Opioid Use Disorder

Addiction to opioids is called an opioid use disorder. You may have an opioid use disorder if:

  • You take more opioids than your provider says you can take.
  • You have cravings for an opioid.
  • You feel like you cant stop taking opioids or reduce the amount you take.
  • You need more opioids to get the same effect.
  • You have problems at home, work or school caused by taking opioids.
  • You spend time getting and using opioids.
  • You feel sick when you stop using opioids or reduce the amount you take.

If you have opioid use disorder, youre at risk for overdose. This is when you take too much of a drug. Overdose can slow or stop your breathing. It can cause you to pass out and even die. If youre using opioids and have any of these signs and symptoms of overdose, call your provider or 911:

  • Blurred vision
  • Feeling dizzy, faint or very sleepy
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Loose, floppy muscles
  • Slowed or trouble breathing or a slow heartbeat

If you have opioid use disorder and you share needles with other drug users, youre at risk for infections like hepatitis and HIV. Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV attacks the bodys immune system that usually helps protect you from infections. You can pass infections like these to your baby during pregnancy.

Sciatica During Pregnancy: How To Relieve Pain

Being pregnant can be loads of fun, with baby showers, cute maternity clothing, and the preparation for your new baby. But if you have cravings, mood swings, or sciatica, pregnancy can feel more like a chore.

There are many things that can be frustrating about being pregnant, but having sciatica pain might be one of the worst. Like a headache, it can completely derail your plans for the day and make trying to sleep at night miserable. But what exactly is sciatica pain during pregnancy? If youre not sure if you have it or are looking for sciatica pain relief, read on. We define what it is and ways to ease it below.

Read Also: Why Can’t You Donate Plasma While Pregnant

How To Use A Tens Unit While Pregnant

First, talk to your doctor about your intended use for the TENS unit.

A TENS unit has different levels of current.

It is believed the lower current is best to build up endorphins.

On the other hand, the higher current levels will block pain transmissions in your body.

Most women find relief from lower back pain by placing the sticky pads on their lower back.

When you first turn on the unit, you will want to begin at a lower current.

You may notice small muscle twitches and a sort of buzzing sensation, which is normal. As you become used to the TENS unitâs current, you can slowly turn up the unit to a level with which you are comfortable.

Consider using the TENS unit for up to 20 minutes at a time. You can use it longer, but the pads may irritate your skin.

Your Pain Relief Options

Sciatic Nerve Pain (Sciatica) During While Pregnancy ...

Labour can be painful it can help to learn about all the ways you can relieve the pain.

It’s also helpful for whoever is going to be with you during your labour to know about the different options, as well as how they can support you.

Ask your midwife or doctor to explain what’s available so you can decide what’s best for you.

Write down your wishes in your birth plan, but remember you need to keep an open mind. You may find you want more pain relief than you’d planned, or your doctor or midwife may suggest more effective pain relief to help the delivery.

Read Also: Can You Get Lasik While Pregnant

Tylenol While Pregnant: Risks & Concerns

While acetaminophen is largely considered the safest pain reliever to take while pregnant, its not without some risks. Emerging research suggests a possible association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and a small increase in the likelihood of asthma, ADHD and autism in children. More recently, a concensus among a group of scientists was published, claiming that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may alter fetal development.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists emphasizing the lack of evidence that proves a direct relationship between the use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues. Dr. Yamaguchi agrees with the recommendations offered by ACOG and encourages pregnant people to consult their healthcare providers should they have concerns regarding acetaminophen usage.

The cited studies in the concensus arent considered strong scientific evidence since many were done in animals and often at much higher doses than typical, or through self-reports by women who took Tylenol during pregnancy . Much of the criticim of these studies are that they have imperfect controlswhich makes it really hard to separate what factors actually drive the results.

Related Posts

Recent Stories