What pregnant women need to know about acetaminophen after Trump warned against it
By CNN, September 23, 2025Pregnant people should not be afraid to take Tylenol, experts say, rebuking unproven claims made by the Trump administration that it can cause autism.
At a news briefing Monday, President Donald Trump repeatedly issued a broad warning: “If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol. When you have your baby, don’t give your baby Tylenol at all unless it’s necessary.”
Also Watch: Concerns about teen pregnancies and youth drug abuse by Teachers and the Clergy
But years of research have led major medical organisations in the United States to support the use of acetaminophen, or Tylenol, to treat pain and fever during pregnancy, with recommendations reflecting that the benefits outweigh any potential risks.
“Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals,” Dr Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Paediatrics, said in a statement.
There are significant limitations to the conclusions that can be drawn from the research on the link between Tylenol and autism, experts say, and no new research was presented at Monday’s briefing.
Acetaminophen is still widely considered among the best and safest options to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.
Safe to use during pregnancy
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says that acetaminophen is safe to use during pregnancy and recommends it as a first-line treatment – and the group confirmed Monday that it does not plan to change that guidance.
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine also reaffirmed its guidance that acetaminophen is an “appropriate medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.”
Pregnant patients should discuss any medication use during pregnancy with their provider, the organisation says, but “the weight of evidence is inconclusive regarding a possible causal relationship between acetaminophen use and neurobehavioral disorders in the offspring.”
The body of research exploring the link between autism and acetaminophen use during pregnancy is not conclusive, and there’s even less research looking at autism prevalence relative to acetaminophen use during infancy or early childhood.
Excessive use of acetaminophen poses serious risks to infants and children, so parents should consult dosing guidelines carefully and check with their paediatricians before use. But the identified risks are related to liver damage, not autism.