Another attack on pregnant women: Trump blames Tylenol for autism

At a Sept. 22 White House press conference, President Donald Trump discouraged the use of acetaminophen — more commonly known as Tylenol — in pregnant women.

Trump, along with several deputies, suggested a link between the use of the common painkiller and autism in children — a claim with a notable lack of direct scientific evidence, according to NPR. Trump’s speech was supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid head Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Trump claimed that communities without access to Tylenol, like the Amish, have no autism whatsoever, while for the rest of the country, autism affects 1 in 12 boys. This is one of the many false statistics spewed by Donald Trump, with the CDC finding that the country sees an average rate of 1 autism diagnosis in 31 children, according to NPR.

Furthermore, both autism and Tylenol are absolutely seen in Amish communities, according to the International Society for Autism Research. 

During the press conference, officials referenced a Harvard study that reported women who consistently took Tylenol during pregnancy seemed slightly more likely to have a child with autism. But, one of the researchers on this study expressed concern that it is too soon to make any direct claims and highlighted the need for stronger evidence before involving the federal government in regulation, according to NPR. 

A direct notice from the Food and Drug Administration sent out Sept. 22 explained that while the link between Tylenol and autism is an ongoing scientific debate, a direct causal relationship has not been established and numerous studies supporting the contrary exist in the scientific literature. 

It is extremely concerning that federal health agencies are willing and able to make announcements that will harm millions of pregnant women across the country without having at least close to 100% certainty that their claims are true. 

The increase in autism diagnoses over the past two decades is largely attributed to morphing definitions of what constitutes autism, with changes in the diagnostic criteria as well as increased awareness and screening. Linking Tylenol to a direct cause of rising rates in autism would suggest that the usage rates of Tylenol have increased — which they have not, according to NPR. 

Acetaminophen is the safest pain-relieving option for pregnant women. Without it, women face a dangerous choice between suffering through conditions like a fever, which could severely harm their baby, or being forced to use riskier alternatives such as aspirin or ibuprofen — drugs that pregnant women are directly told to avoid. Underlying health problems that cause fever can result in birth defects and complications during pregnancy, and it is smart to address the fever using acetaminophen according to the National Institute of Health.

I can’t help but see this as yet another attack on pregnant women at the hands of the current administration. In our political climate, you are punished for not wanting to be pregnant, but if you do choose to carry the baby, you are systematically punished as well.

It is hard enough for mothers to deal with the blame game of parenthood and specifically, motherhood. These women are stuck in a constant cycle of overthinking every decision made before, during and after pregnancy, wondering whether or not it was the right choice for their child. They do not need to face extra blame straight from the government. 

Trump quite literally used the verbiage “tough it out” in reference to pregnant women who want to take Tylenol. This is such an extremely harmful and frankly weird thing for a cisgender man to say — a man who will never know the harsh realities of the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Who is he to tell pregnant women to “tough out” something he will never have to suffer through? 

The research resources used to place blame on mothers would be far better served toward supporting people with autism’s long-term quality of life, both institutionally and interpersonally. 

Trump specifically described the rise in autism as a “horrible crisis” and one of the “most alarming public health developments in history.” This is an alarming and stigmatizing statement to make — autistic children and their impact on the family dynamic should not be seen as some extreme disaster. 

I argue that this country is certainly facing a horrible crisis and an alarming public health development, but it has nothing to do with autism. It involves having a committee of government officials in charge of public health that knows nothing about the science of health, has no plan to make efforts to learn and appears to have a clear bias against women, pregnant or not.