title: Effect of Acetaminophen on Fetal Activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine if maternal administration of acetaminophen affects fetal activity and thereby the interpretation of clinical assessments of fetal well being.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study was performed in 20 women between 30 and 34 weeks' gestation with uncomplicated pregnancies. A 1-hour ultrasound was performed and recorded to document baseline fetal breathing and body movements. All the subjects were then given a 1,000 mg dose of oral acetaminophen. One hour later, a second 1 hour ultrasound was performed to document postacetaminophen fetal breathing and body movements. The number of episodes and total duration of gross body and fetal breathing movements were then assessed by a blinded observer. The pre- and post-acetaminophen values were compared using a repeated measures t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant effect of acetaminophen on the number of episodes or time spent in fetal breathing or body movements when each activity parameter was analyzed separately. In addition, there was no effect when fetal breathing and body movements were combined into a single composite activity score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although acetaminophen has been shown to affect fetal activity in animal models, it has little effect on humans. Thus, maternal administration of acetaminophen should not affect assessment of fetal well being.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nitsche
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Loralie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Langman
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Derleth
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brost
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen