Paracetamol is safe for pregnant women despite claims made by US President Donald Trump, the New Zealand College of Midwives says.
Earlier today, Trump said the medication – typically used to treat pain and fevers – should not be taken by pregnant women, as it "can be associated" with an increased risk of autism in children.
The announcement was made with Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who was launching an investigation to identify all causes of autism.
Associated Press reported the claims were unproven, and new evidence was not provided to prove otherwise.
In response to Trump's announcement, the New Zealand College of Midwives said high quality scientific evidence does not establish a causal link or association between paracetamol and autism, or other developmental concerns.
"Paracetamol is widely considered the first-line, safest option for pregnant women who require pain relief or fever management," said New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy.
"Used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary time, there is no evidence of risk to babies."
The college, which comprises of midwives, educators, students and birthing women, said paracetamol has been used for decades by pregnant women around the world.
Medsafe, which is New Zealand’s regulatory body for medicine safety, categorises the medication as a Pregnancy Category A.
The college said the category means it is under the highest level of safety, and adequate, well-controlled studies of the use of this medication in pregnancy within specified dosage limits have "shown no increased risk" of harm to unborn children.
"Large, high-quality studies – including population data from Sweden involving over two million children – found no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability from paracetamol use during pregnancy," it added.
Untreated pain can be harmful
The college said untreated fever and severe pain in pregnancy can be harmful to both the mother and baby.
"Without safe pain relief options, women may turn to alternatives such as ibuprofen which is not recommended in pregnancy due to proven risks."
Eddy encouraged expectant mothers to not be swayed by overseas political commentary.
"The best approach is always to read health information provided by trustworthy New Zealand sources like Health NZ or discuss any concerns directly with your LMC or maternity healthcare provider."
If taking medication is required, the college said women should feel confident paracetamol is safe when taken according to the instructions on the packaging.
"Always consult your midwife, GP, or obstetrician if you have ongoing pain, fever, or questions about medicines.
"Do not stop recommended treatments based on international political announcements or headlines.
"Trustworthy sources of heath information in this country include Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, Medsafe, HealthInfo, Healthify, and your midwife, GP or obstetrician."
Trump also raised unfounded concerns about vaccines contributing to rising rates of autism, which affects 1 in 31 US children today, according to the CDC.
Scientists, doctors and researchers have attributed increased rates of autism to greater awareness of the disorder and the newer, wide-ranging "spectrum" used to issue diagnoses for people with milder expressions of autism. It's hard to tell if there may be additional factors behind the increase.
The Trump administration has been under immense pressure from Kennedy's diverse Make America Healthy Again movement to provide answers on the causes of the marked increase in autism cases in the US in recent years.
Experts say the rise in cases is mainly due to a new definition for the disorder that now includes mild cases on a "spectrum" and better diagnoses. They say there is no single cause to the disorder and say the rhetoric appears to ignore and undermine decades of science into the genetic and environmental factors that can play a role.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
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