Episode 157 - Beyond the Headlines: Paracetamol in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
Description
In this episode, I’m speaking openly about the ongoing debate around paracetamol (Tylenol), especially its use during pregnancy and in young children.
Headlines and politics — including Donald Trump jumping on a microphone with bold claims — have left many people either dismissing concerns outright or panicking. But if we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we risk missing the real science that deserves our attention.
I explore:
- How paracetamol impacts the body: glutathione depletion, mitochondrial stress, DNA and immune function.
- The role of genetics (like MTHFR variants) in how drugs are processed.
- Why giving babies paracetamol before vaccination may blunt their immune response.
- The connection between gut health, antibiotics, C-sections, and long-term wellbeing.
- Practical ways to make more thoughtful choices.
Studies & Resources:
- Paracetamol and the Developing Brain (PMC)
- Impact of intrapartum antibiotics and C-section on infant gut microbiome.
- Early-life Antibiotics and Risk of ADHD (PMC)
- C-section, Formula Feeding, and Infant Gut Microbiome (Frontiers)
- Maternal Antibiotic Prophylaxis During C-section and Infant Gut Microbiome (PMC)
- Paracetamol, Oxidative Stress, and Glutathione (PMC)
- Effect of prophylactic paracetamol administration at time of infant vaccination on febrile reactions and antibody responses.
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Please remember that the information shared with you in this episode is solely based on my own personal experiences as a doula and the private opinions of my guests, based on their own experiences. Any recommendations made may not be suitable for ...