Paracetamol Vs CBD Use During Pregnancy

Expectant mothers no more than anyone that pregnancy is hard work. Evaluating the safety of a developing child as it grows within you is no easy task, as everything you consume, it consumes. This means, when it comes to things like pain killers, most mothers are very wary. It can be a minefield of potential problems. The most common and safest course is to simply stay away from these kinds of substances. However, this is not always possible and has resulted in us being asked how CBD compares, especially to substances like paracetamol.

Paracetamol and pregnancy

First, let’s take a look at paracetamol. At face value, paracetamol is a relatively safe and easy to obtain drug. It is used for general pain relief, often without a second thought. It is also considered to be very safe – hence often being able to buy it without a prescription. This sense of security has led it to be used by pregnant women as well.

While taking paracetamol during pregnancy is a standard practice, new research suggests that there is a connection between paracetamol use and symptoms of hyperactivity and autism in children. Researchers from Spain recruited 2644 expectant mothers, surveying them on their paracetamol use and then assessing the children at ages 1 and 5. Each mother's use of paracetamol was classed as either never, sporadic, or persistent.

At age 5, it was found that children who had been exposed to paracetamol during the first 32 weeks of pregnancy were significantly more likely to exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviour, with children belonging to mothers who fell into the persistent category performing the worst at inattention, impulsivity, and visual speed processing tests. It suggests that paracetamol may have an effect on embryo development. Of course, this is just one study, and needs to be taken with a healthy degree of scepticism, but displays a potential problem that needs investigating.

CBD and pregnancy

CBD is well known to help ease certain symptoms, such as inflammation and aches. As such, it is often a substance of interest to pregnant women. Once again, a healthy degree of scepticism needs to be used. There is no evidence that CBD is harmful to an unborn child, but at the same time, the research into it is sparse.

Research that has been done has involved mice, and not moved onto clinical trials yet. However, in this research, no adverse effects were found on embryo development. This may not take into account long-term effects, however.

The safest thing to do is consult a medical professional. This way you can ensure you get the best for both you and your unborn child.