Can paracetamol during pregnancy cause behavioural problems in children? Previously paracetamol was considered one of the safest painkillers during pregnancy, but a new study warns of the dangers of taking paracetamol while pregnant. The study recruited pregnant women in 1991 and 1992 and kept track of their children. When the women were 32 weeks pregnant, they were asked how often they had taken paracetamol in the past three months. The researchers then looked at how this could be linked to behavioural problems in their children, examining multiple measures (135 in total) used to identify behavioural and thinking problems. They found that acetaminophen use during pregnancy was associated with increased “scores” on 12 of these measures, mainly hyperactivity or concentration problems. However, the study did not conclusively prove that paracetamol use during pregnancy caused behavioral problems in children. If you are pregnant and feel the need to take painkillers, it is usually safe to take paracetamol. However, if you find that you need to take paracetamol regularly, please consult your doctor or midwife. The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Bristol and funded by the Medical Research Council UK and the Wellcome Trust. It was published in the peer-reviewed PaediatricandPerinatalEpidemiology. The British media took the results of the study at face value without realizing its limitations. Reports that “women who take paracetamol during pregnancy may have children with behavioral problems” are unhelpful. The study has not identified the identified risks. The study assessed the association between paracetamol and 135 different cognitive and behavioral outcomes, and the more variables looked at, the greater the likelihood of finding a relationship by chance. There is no clear evidence that paracetamol can harm your baby, and for the time being it is considered relatively safe to take acetaminophen during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, as with any medication taken during pregnancy, to use acetaminophen as sparingly as possible.