While the over the counter medication Tylenol has been used to treat fever for pregnant women for decades, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy recently said the drug had side effects unsafe for expectant mothers.

“If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol,” Trump said on Sept. 22, 2025 during an hour-long national press conference including his leading health administrators. At that conference, he stated that taking Tylenol during a pregnancy raises the risk of the child having autism.

According to medical professionals and scientists, though, Tylenol remains the safest option for pregnant women to treat a fever.

“Untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth, and untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure,” according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Trump didn’t offer Tylenol alternatives after dispensing the warning, saying other medicines like aspirin and Advil are “absolutely proven bad.” 

Because of the mixed messaging surrounding these medications, the best bet for pregnant women is to always consult with their doctors.