Paracetamol & Pregnancy

Advice for Healthcare Professionals to Provide to Patients:

• paracetamol is recommended as the first-choice pain reliever for pregnant women, used at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration. It can also be used to treat fever
• pregnant women should be advised to continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy
• untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important that patients continue to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment
• patients should not swap to alternatives such as ibuprofen, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally not recommended during pregnancy