Ibuprofen is not usually recommended in pregnancy, unless it's prescribed by a doctor, especially if you're more than 30 weeks pregnant. This is because ibuprofen can affect your baby's circulation and kidneys. There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided during pregnancy. You can use paracetamol to help mild to moderate pain during pregnancy.
Taking ibuprofen before week 30 of pregnancy is unlikely to harm a baby in the womb. However, if you have taken or are taking any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need medication.
Paracetamol is one of the few 'relatively safe' medications for treating pain in pregnancy.
When needed, paracetamol is generally considered the safest medication for the short-term treatment of pain or to reduce fever during pregnancy. 3,4 For further information see “Fever in Pregnancy” MotherSafe factsheet.
Panamax may be used during pregnancy and if you are breastfeeding. However, it is recommended that non-drug therapy such as rest and massage be tried first. If Panamax is needed during pregnancy, it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible frequency.
If you've taken a one-off dose of ibuprofen before you're 30 weeks pregnant, try not to worry. It's unlikely to harm you or your baby. If you've taken ibuprofen after 30 weeks of pregnancy, let your GP or midwife know as soon as possible .
When taken during pregnancy, NSAIDs reduce blood flow to the baby's kidneys and other important structures. Reduced blood flow to the kidneys leads to reduced urine production by the fetus. Since amniotic fluid is really just the collection of fetal urine, oligohydramnios can develop.
Category C: Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and, when given during the latter part of pregnancy, may cause closure of the foetal ductus arteriosus, foetal renal impairment, inhibition of platelet aggregation and may delay labour and birth.
Paracetamol is the painkiller of choice for use in pregnancy and its use does not require medical supervision. It is not uncommon for women to have used other types of painkiller early in pregnancy before finding out they are pregnant. In general, this type of use is not expected to harm the baby.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women can take paracetamol for fever and pain relief, but should stick to the lowest dose of paracetamol for the shortest possible time. According to NHS guidelines, a maximum of 8, 500mg tablets over 24 hours is recommended, with at least 4 hours between each dose.
Most pregnant women can safely take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to treat occasional headaches. Your health care provider might recommend other medications as well. Make sure you have the OK from your health care provider before taking any medication, including herbal treatments.
The risk of a miscarriage was 80% higher than usual for women who took aspirin or ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Advil) regularly for more than a week, the team reports in the 16 August issue of the British Medical Journal.
The preferred over-the-counter pain medication for pregnant women is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is considered safe for women throughout all trimesters by doctors. Although Tylenol is generally safe, women should only take the recommended dosage for a short period of time.
Headache Remedies
Don't take NSAIDS such as ibuprofen (Advil) during pregnancy. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or small amounts of caffeine, however, are considered safe.
Cold medications that are generally considered safe for pregnant people include: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Some antihistamines, including loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Most steroid-based nasal sprays.
Several studies have shown that prenatal exposure to paracetamol may alter foetal development. It has been shown to increase the risk of certain minor neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as potentially having urogenital and reproductive effects.
Ibuprofen (Nurofen) Like Paracetamol, Ibuprofen is also used to relieve mild to moderate pain and to reduce inflammation. It is one of a group of medicines called NSAIDs. The main effect of NSAIDs is to reduce inflammation, which is the body's way of reacting to an injury or infection, as a way of healing the body.
Coping with headaches in pregnancy
Paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you're pregnant. However, for safety, if you take paracetamol in pregnancy, take it for the shortest possible time. You can get advice from your pharmacist, midwife or GP about how much paracetamol you can take and for how long.
There's a good chance that your migraines will improve after the first trimester. This may be because your oestrogen level starts to stabilise. However, some people don't notice a change, or may get worse migraines during pregnancy. You also might notice different changes from one pregnancy to the next.
If your maternity care providers advises you can safely recover from COVID-19 at home, there are several things you can do to relieve the symptoms: rest as much as possible. drink plenty of fluids. take paracetamol to ease your symptoms (ibuprofen is not safe to take during pregnancy)