Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is one of the most common over-the-counter pain relievers, next to ibuprofen and aspirin. Acetaminophen was first discovered in 1878, but it wasn’t marketed until the 1950s under the name Triage sic.

Acetaminophen was traditionally the preferred over-the-counter pain medication for pregnant women because it was considered safer than NSAIDS like ibuprofen. However, in June, 2021, a group of scientists and doctors published a call for caution, citing numerous studies that suggested the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy “might alter fetal development, which could in turn increase the risks of certain neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders.”