Trump‘s Advice โฃtoo ‘Tough It Out’ During Pregnancy Draws Criticism From Doctors
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump recently suggested pregnant individuals experiencingโ pain or fever should “tough it out,” a statement that has sparked concern and โขpushback from medical professionals. Experts emphasize the โคimportance of seeking medical attention for fevers and pain during pregnancy andโฃ following established medical guidance forโค treatment.
Aโ large meta-analysis published in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Autism in 2021 analyzed studies โinvolving over 10,000 children and provided further โขevidence linking maternal fever during pregnancy to neurodevelopmental disorders in โchildren. Research also suggests a possible association between fevers andโ neural tube โขdefects, which can impact a fetus’s brain,โฃ spine, or spinal cord duringโ the first month of pregnancy,โฃ according toโ Dr. Lauraโ Gabard-Durnam.
“If aโข pregnant person experiences pain or a fever, the first thing they should do is contact thier medical provider to rule out more serious health conditions like preeclampsia,” said Dr. caitlin Baptiste,โ a maternal-fetal medicine physician and assistant professor of obstetrics โฃand gynecology atโฃ Columbia University.
Following consultation with a doctor, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered the best medical option for treating fevers and headaches duringโฃ pregnancy, Baptiste added. “We don’t haveโข answers as to why we have children with autism and neurodevelopmental delays โฆ and โthat’s always โscary asโ parents so I understand why researchers and our administration is trying to come up with answers,” baptiste said. “But Tylenol does not seem to be โฃthat answer.”
Nonmedical options for managing headaches include staying hydrated, resting in a dark and quiet room, and relaxation โขtechniques, Baptiste suggested.
Addressing concerns stemming from Trump’s comments, Baptiste urged parents who took โขTylenol during pregnancy not to add it “to the long listโ of worries andโฃ second-guessingโ that we experience as parents.” Sheโ recommends parents discuss any concerns with โขtheir child’s pediatrician and consider potential testing if needed.
Gabard-Durnam, who also โtook Tylenol duringโ her pregnancy to treat migraines, echoed this sentiment. “This is โคnot the time โto look backwards and have โany more mom guilt than we already frequently enough โคhave. This is โฃnot the moment to regurgitate the tired story of blaming the mom,” she said. “If you โfollowed the guidance of your doctorsโฆ you’re doing the best for โyourself and your child.”
Recent scrutiny hasโ also beenโ directed toward Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, regarding claimsโฃ linking the medication to autism, as reported by USA Today.
