Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Prevent ADHD in Children?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics has discovered a possible link between acetaminophen use and ADHD in children.

Acetaminophen is found in Tylenol and a wide-variety of other pain pills and is the most common medication taken by expectant mothers. Expectant mothers often used acetaminophen products to help reduce the joint and back pain that are so frequently associated with pregnancy.

This research study followed more than 64,000 Danish children born between the years of 1996 and 2002, whose mothers took acetaminophen, the results were as follows:

• These children were 37 percent more likely to be diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorder or more severe ADHD.


• 29 percent of these children were more likely to find themselves being prescribed ADHD medications.

While the findings are still preliminary, findings fall short of proving a direct cause-and-effect relationship between acetaminophen use in expectant mothers and ADHD in children. However, these findings have set off alarms and healthcare professionals indicate that we really need to start looking at non-pharmacological ways of dealing with pain. While acetaminophen should still be used in the event of fevers, there are alternatives to dealing with just pain itself.

One alternative method to pain medications, that continues to grow in popularity, is chiropractic care. The American Pregnancy Association indicates that chiropractic care can help women to maintain a healthier pregnancy while controlling nausea, relieving back and joint pain, reducing labor and delivery time and preventing a possible cesarean delivery.

With extensive education and training in working with pregnant women, chiropractic care during pregnancy can help reduce pain and symptoms without the risks of using pain medications during pregnancy.

If you have questions about acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD in children, contact LifeWorks Integrative Health today to learn how we can treat the aches and pains of pregnancy without the need for pain medications. 913-730-5838.

Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Prevent ADHD in Children?