Painkillers in pregnancy

Common painkillers

Concern remains about common painkiller use during pregnancy. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that paracetamol, if used occasionally, increases the risk of problems for the baby, but you should always be careful about taking them more than two or three times a week and see your doctor if you need to use them regularly. It’s probably best to avoid ibuprofen and codeine in early pregnancy and they shouldn't be taken at all later in pregnancy, as the potential risks to the foetus are well known.

Aspirin is also best avoided, especially towards the end of pregnancy, although there's some research looking at whether in low doses, in the early stages, it may help to prevent recurrent miscarriage in some women.

Drugs in different stages of pregnancy

Some types of medication can cross the placenta and enter the baby's bloodstream. It may then harm the baby or interfere with their normal development.

Different drugs have different effects at particular stages of pregnancy. Some are especially dangerous early on - thalidomide, for example, was used to treat morning sickness, which meant it was taken at a time in pregnancy when the foetus's limbs are growing and other major developmental changes are taking place. Others are more harmful in the later stages or may interfere with labour.

Often women take medication before they know they're pregnant. If you're trying to conceive, or there's a risk you could become pregnant, you should always check with your doctor about any medications you're already taking or new medicines prescribed to you.

Drugs taken at the end of pregnancy or during labour, including the drugs used by anaesthetists if you have a caesarean under general anaesthetic, can affect the baby after they're born. Major painkillers and anaesthetic drugs can leave a baby drowsy, for example, which may interfere with feeding early on.

Headaches during pregnancy

Headaches happen during pregnancy, just as in other times of life, and in most cases there's no worrying cause.

However, there are conditions specific to pregnancy that can cause headaches. In particular, an increase in blood pressure linked to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia may cause severe headaches - and this can be a dangerous development for both you and your unborn baby. This usually occurs after 12 weeks, but if headaches persist, get your blood pressure checked.

A few simple rules:

• Always assume all medicine is potentially harmful and avoid it until you've checked it out with a doctor or pharmacist.
• Tell your doctor if you might be pregnant before they give or prescribe any treatment.
• If you take regular medication, tell your doctor as soon as you start trying to conceive.